24-Hour & Weekend Pharmacy in Seoul: How to Buy Medicine Anytime

## Need Medicine Late at Night in Seoul? Here Is Exactly What to Do If a regular pharmacy is closed, you have three real options in Seoul: find a designated late-night pharmacy (심야약국), buy a short list of basic medicines at any 24-hour convenience store, or go to a hospital emergency room. The fastest way to locate an open pharmacy at 2 AM or on a holiday is the government's e-gen emergency portal (www.e-gen.or.kr) or its free app, "응급의료정보제공." I have lived in Seoul as a foreigner for a while, and the night a friend got a splitting headache after every pharmacy had shut, this is the exact routine that saved us. Below I will walk through opening hours, how to find a 24-hour pharmacy in Seoul, the convenience-store medicine list, and what to say when you get there. ## What Are Normal Pharmacy Opening Hours in Korea? Most Korean pharmacies open around 9 AM and close between 6 and 9 PM on weekdays, close early on Saturdays (often by 1 to 2 PM), and stay shut on Sundays and public holidays. Hours swing a lot by location, so the gap you will actually run into is nights and Sunday afternoons. Here is the pattern I have seen again and again. Pharmacies clustered around big hospitals or major subway hubs stay open later, while a quiet neighborhood pharmacy might close by 7 PM sharp. One more thing worth knowing: after 6 PM on weekdays, after 1 PM on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays and holidays, the dispensing fee is about 30% higher under the national health insurance rules. It is a small surcharge, not a rip-off, but do not be surprised when the late-night total looks a little higher. If you are planning a trip and want to avoid the whole problem, packing a few basics ahead of time helps. Our [travel medicine kit for a Korea trip](https://beautydir.co/travel-medicine-kit-korea-trip-what-to-pack-vs-buy-pharmacy) guide covers what to bring versus what to buy at the pharmacy here. ## How Do I Find a 24-Hour or Weekend Pharmacy in Seoul? Use the official e-gen system: the website www.e-gen.or.kr or the "응급의료정보제공" app, which shows pharmacies, clinics, and emergency rooms open right now by your location and the current time. It is run by the National Medical Center under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, so the data is real-time and reliable. Let me break down the tools that actually work, because this is where most guides get vague. | Tool | What it does | Where to get it | |---|---|---| | e-gen portal | Open pharmacies, ERs, clinics by time and area | www.e-gen.or.kr | | 응급의료정보제공 app | Same data on mobile, plus AED and holiday pharmacies | App Store / Google Play | | Smart Seoul Map | "공공심야약국" night-pharmacy layer for Seoul | map.seoul.go.kr | | pharm114 | Currently open pharmacies by district | www.pharm114.or.kr | | Naver / Kakao Map | Search "24시간 약국" or "야간 약국" nearby | app search | If you would rather just call, dial 129 (the Health and Welfare call center) or 120 (the Seoul city Dasan hotline), and they will point you to an open pharmacy or hospital. In a genuine emergency, 119 also gives medical facility information. Honestly, the e-gen app is the one I keep on my phone, because it filters by "open now" automatically. ## What Is a 심야약국 (Late-Night Pharmacy)? A 심야약국, or public night pharmacy (공공심야약국), is a government-designated pharmacy that stays open late so you can buy medicine at night, on weekends, and on holidays, with a licensed pharmacist on duty just like daytime. The standard window is 10 PM to 1 AM, though some run 365 days a year and others only on certain days. Seoul has around 38 to 39 of these public night pharmacies spread across its districts, so there is usually one within reach, especially in central and busy areas. A well-known example near Gangnam is Jeil Grand Pharmacy (제일그랜드약국) close to Nonhyeon Station, reported to open 24 hours year-round. That said, individual pharmacy schedules do change, so I would always confirm on e-gen or by phone before making a trip across town at midnight. ## Which Medicines Can I Buy at a Convenience Store? When every pharmacy is closed, a 24-hour convenience store (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24) can legally sell 13 basic over-the-counter items known as 안전상비의약품 (safety-essential medicines). No prescription, no pharmacist needed, but there are strict limits. The 13 items fall into four groups: - Fever and pain: Tylenol 500mg, 160mg, 80mg (children), children's liquid Tylenol, and children's Brufen (ibuprofen) syrup - Cold: Pancold-A (판콜에이) and Panpyrin T (판피린티) - Digestion: Bearse (베아제), Dr. Bearse (닥터베아제), Festal Gold (훼스탈골드), Festal Plus (훼스탈플러스) - Pain-relief patches: Jeil Cool Pap (제일쿨파프) and Sinsin Pas Aret (신신파스아렉스) The rules are simple but firm. You can buy only one day's supply of each item per visit, sales to children under 12 are prohibited, and only stores open 24 hours year-round are allowed to stock them. If you just need a Tylenol at 3 AM, this is your answer. For a deeper look at painkiller options and Korean brand names, see our [Korean painkillers OTC guide](https://beautydir.co/korean-painkillers-otc-tylenol-gaebolin-brufen-guide). ## Practical Tips for Foreigners at a Korean Pharmacy Korea separates prescribing and dispensing, so doctors prescribe at clinics and pharmacists dispense at the pharmacy, but common items like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antihistamines, and basic cold or stomach medicine are sold over the counter without a prescription. Antibiotics, sleep aids, and most chronic-condition drugs do need a prescription. A few things I have learned the practical way: - You do not need perfect Korean. Point to where it hurts and say the symptom: 두통 (headache), 기침 (cough), 배탈 (upset stomach). Pharmacists give free advice for minor issues. - With national health insurance, simple medications often come to just 1,700 to 2,500 won. Without insurance, expect roughly three to five times more. - English-speaking pharmacies are easiest to find in Itaewon and Hannam, around Gangnam, Apgujeong and Sinsa, and at the international clinics inside major hospitals like Asan, Samsung, and Severance. If nothing at all is open and you genuinely need medication overnight, a hospital emergency room operates 24/7 and usually has an on-site pharmacy. Find the nearest open ER through the same e-gen app or by calling 119. If you are also fighting a cold, our [Korean cold medicine guide for foreigners](https://beautydir.co/korean-cold-medicine-for-foreigners-otc-pharmacy-guide) lists the exact products to ask for. ## Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any 24-hour pharmacies in Seoul?

Yes. Seoul has around 38 to 39 government-designated public night pharmacies (공공심야약국) across its districts, and a few, such as Jeil Grand Pharmacy near Nonhyeon Station in Gangnam, are reported to open 24 hours year-round. Most designated night pharmacies operate from about 10 PM to 1 AM. Because individual schedules change, confirm the exact hours on the e-gen portal (www.e-gen.or.kr) or its app before you go.

Where can I buy medicine when every pharmacy is closed?

Any 24-hour convenience store (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Emart24) can sell 13 basic over-the-counter medicines, including Tylenol, cold medicine, digestive tablets, and pain-relief patches. You can buy only one day's supply of each per visit, and stores cannot sell to children under 12. For anything stronger, use the e-gen app to find an open night pharmacy or a hospital emergency room.

Do I need a prescription to buy medicine in Korea?

Not for common over-the-counter items. Painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, antihistamines, and basic cold or stomach medicine are sold directly at pharmacies without a prescription. However, antibiotics, sleeping pills, and most chronic-condition medications require a doctor's prescription, since Korea legally separates prescribing (at clinics) from dispensing (at pharmacies).

What should I say at a Korean pharmacy if I don't speak Korean?

Keep it simple and describe the symptom. Useful words include 두통 (headache), 기침 (cough), 콧물 (runny nose), 배탈 (upset stomach), and 몸살 (body aches). You can also point to the affected area. Pharmacists routinely help foreigners and give free consultation for minor ailments, and pharmacies in Itaewon, Hannam, and Gangnam often have English-speaking staff.

Is medicine expensive in Korea for foreigners?

For basic items, no. With national health insurance, simple medications often total just 1,700 to 2,500 won including the dispensing fee. Without insurance, prices run roughly three to five times higher, and note that dispensing fees rise about 30% at night, after 1 PM on Saturdays, and on Sundays and holidays.

## Sources - [The Korea Herald - Finding a pharmacy in the middle of the night](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10686924) - [The Korea Herald - 13 first-aid medicines to be sold at convenience stores](https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10366226) - [Seoul Metropolitan Government - Public Night Pharmacy Program](https://news.seoul.go.kr/welfare/archives/567003) - [Ministry of Health and Welfare - Holiday hospital and pharmacy information](https://www.mohw.go.kr/board.es?mid=a10503000000&bid=0027&act=view&list_no=1480227) For more English guides on buying medicine in Korea, visit [BeautyDir](https://beautydir.co/).