How to Get Free Medical Support as a Foreigner in South Korea
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How to Get Free Medical Support as a Foreigner in South Korea


A doctor holding a heart-shaped South Korean flag
Credits: Shutterstock

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you got sick or injured while living abroad, far away from home? If you’re a foreigner living in South Korea, navigating healthcare could sound or feel overwhelming, but the good news is that you’re not left alone because such help is often free. Whether you are a student, an expat or a tourist, this article will show you how to access free and reliable medical support in South Korea.


119 EMERGENCY HOTLINE

If you find yourself in an emergency situation while in South Korea, dial 119 — the country’s emergency hotline for fire, ambulance, and rescue services. This essential service is completely free and operates nationwide, so whether you need to be transported to a hospital urgently or require on-the-spot medical attention, 119 rescue teams are trained to respond quickly and effectively. Foreign callers don’t need to worry about the language barrier — your call will automatically be connected to a professional interpreter who will assist you in real time. If you need more information about the emergency services in South Korea, you can also check the website www.119.go.kr.


FREE CLINICS FOR FOREIGNERS IN SOUTH KOREA


1.     SEOUL FOREIGN RESIDENTS CENTRE

ADDRESS: 40 Dosin-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (604-30 Daerim 3-dong)

AVAILABILITY: Monday to Friday, Sunday / 9 AM – 6 PM

INQUIRIES AND RESERVATIONS: Consultation Operation Team Kim Min-seop 

PHONE NUMBER: 02-2229-4910

E-MAIL ADRESS: help@sfrc.seoul.kr

MULTILINGUAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR EXPATS & STUDENTS IN KOREA

Seoul offers free multilingual consultation services to help you with every aspect of daily life—from immigration and labour issues to housing and mental health support. Professional consultants are available to speak with you in your native language, making it easier to get the help you need. Consultations are completely free of charge and cover a wide range of topics, including visas, healthcare, education, and more. On the website global.seoul.go.kr, you can check which clinics are available free of charge for foreigners. You are advised to check the website regularly and keep yourself up to date, as there are free clinics opening continuously.

 

EMOTIONAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLING

Seoul Foreign Residents Centre offers free psychological counselling to help you manage stress, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal challenges. You can benefit from 5 individual sessions over 7 weeks (50 minutes per session) with counselling services available in English, Korean or Chinese.


2.     SEONGNAM MIGRANT COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTRE

WEBSITE: http://foreigner.seongnam.go.kr/   ADDRESS: Jeil Plaza 2nd Fl., 3042, Sujin 2-dong, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

AVAILABILITY: Sundays of the second, fourth, and fifth weeks / 2 PM to 5 PM

PHONE NUMBER: 031-754-7070

PURPOSE OF THE FREE CLINIC: Seongnam is home to over 28,000 foreign residents, and the city’s Migrant Community Service Centre was created through public-private cooperation to make you feel welcome. Many foreign residents, especially migrant workers, face difficulties accessing proper healthcare, so the clinic provides a safe, welcoming space where you can talk directly with doctors, receive preventive care, and get treatment for illnesses or injuries common among foreign labourers.

MEDICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE: The clinic covers a wide range of medical fields, including internal medicine, dentistry, maternity care, dermatology, psychiatry, ENT and surgery.


  3.  RAPHAEL CENTRE   

WEBSITE: http://raphael.or.kr/   

ADDRESS: 7 Raphael Centre, Changgyeonggung-ro 43-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02880

AVAILABILITY:

Sunday: Registration hours: 9:30 AM -11:30 AM; 12:45 PM – 3 PM Consultation hours: 10 AM – 1 PM; 1 PM – 5 PM

Wednesday: Registration hours: 2 PM – 4 PM Dental clinic: 2 PM – 5 PM Saturday: Registration hours: 3 PM – 5 PM Dental clinic: 3 PM – 6 PM

INQUIRIES AND RESERVATIONS: Jae-seong Ko 

PHONE NUMBER: 02-763-7595

E-MAIL ADDRESS: 97raphrael@hainmail.net

MEDICAL CARE IN ENGLISH FOR FOREIGNERS

If you're a registered foreigner in Korea seeking free medical care in English, the Raphael Clinic is a reliable and welcoming option. Please note: services are available to those with an Alien Registration Card (ARC) but not to C1–C4 visa holders.

MEDICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE: the clinic offers a wide range of departments, including: obstetrics & gynecology (OB/GYN), ear, nose & throat (ENT), ophthalmology,, urology, dentistry, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, rehabilitation medicine, diabetes care, pain clinic, radiology & laboratory services, neurology and dermatology.


4.  KHAP - Korea Federation for HIV/AIDS Prevention

 WEBSITE: khap.org

ADDRESS: 4 locations – Itaewon, Gireum, Busan and Ansan

AVAILABILITY (subject to change): 1:40 PM (Thursday from 2 PM) – 8:20 PM including break time between 6-7 PM (Itaewon & Gireum Centres) / 12 PM – 5:50 PM (Ansan Centre) / 2 PM – 5:50 PM (Busan Centre)

PHONE NUMBER: 82-2-927-4322 (Gireum Centre) / 02-749-1108 (Itaewon Centre)

E-MAIL ADRESS: khap@kaids.or.kr

PURPOSE OF THE FREE CLINIC: The Korea HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre (KHAP) is dedicated to promoting public health by providing free and anonymous HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services, particularly for foreigners residing in South Korea. Established in response to the growing need for accessible health services among the international community, KHAP offers confidential testing, counselling, and educational resources to support individuals in managing their sexual health. With centres in areas such as Itaewon, Gireum, and Ansan, KHAP ensures that comprehensive care is available to diverse populations across the country.

 

5.     TOGETHER ASIA

ADDRESS: 5th floor, Samshin Building, 269 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (reservation required)

AVAILABILITY:  Every Saturday / 3 PM -8 PM

PHONE NUMBER: 010-8751-7311

E-MAIL ADRESS: withasia17@hanmail.net

FREE DENTAL CARE FOR MIGRANT WORKERS AND REFUGEES IN SOUTH KOREA:

Together ASIA is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation made up of dental professionals committed to humanistic values. Their mission is simple but powerful: to bring compassion and expert care to those far from home. Offering free dental treatment to migrant workers, refugees, and their families, Together ASIA helps ensure that oral health is accessible regardless of income or background. Dental services are available to foreign migrant workers, refugees, and their families, or individuals who have resided in Korea for over one year. A passport or Alien Registration Card must be presented during your first visit.


6.     SEOUL GLOBAL CENTRE

ADDRESS: 110 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

AVAILABILITY:  24-hour service

PHONE NUMBER: 02-731-2120

PURPOSE: The Seoul Global Centre provides a 24-hour Medical Referral Service (MRS) to assist foreign residents in finding the right healthcare options. Staffed by medically trained professionals fluent in English, the service offers guidance and recommendations on medical facilities across the city. To ensure accurate and up-to-date support, the team regularly visits clinics and hospitals that cater to foreigners.


7.     ITAEWON GLOBAL VILLAGE CENTER (GVC)

ADDRESS: Basement 1, 54-14 Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seiu

PHONE NUMBER:  02-2199-8883/8884/8885

AVAILABILITY: Monday–Friday / 9 AM – 6 PM (closed for lunch from 12 PM to 1 PM)

E-MAIL ADRESS: itaewongvc@gmail.com

PURPOSE: Itaewon Global Village Centre offers a variety of services to support foreigners living in South Korea, which include classes and programs that help foreigners understand Korean culture better. 

 

8.  SEOUL ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL

ADDRESS: 222 Banpo-Daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul

PHONE NUMBER: 02-2258-5745-6  

AVAILABILITY: 24-hour service

E-MAIL ADRESS: ihcc@catholic.ac.kr

PURPOSE: The International Healthcare Centre is committed to delivering top-quality medical care tailored to the needs of international patients. The centre provides attentive and advanced care to foreigners living in or visiting Korea without Korean National Health Insurance. The centre has a team of highly qualified healthcare professionals experienced in global medical services, ready to help foreigners permanently. Multilingual doctors, nurses, and coordinators are on hand to assist patients in English, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, French, Chinese, and Korean. The staff ensures that every patient receives comprehensive health support and clear communication throughout their medical experience.



Navigating healthcare in a new country can feel overwhelming, but South Korea offers a range of accessible, often free, medical services tailored to support foreign residents and visitors. Whether you’re seeking routine checkups, dental care, psychological support, or emergency assistance, there are resources designed to meet your needs with compassion and professionalism. By knowing where to go and what’s available, you can feel more confident and cared for during your time in Korea, because good health should never be out of reach, no matter where you come from.


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