🚑 Emergency or Visiting a Clinic

Getting sick or facing an emergency in Korea can be stressful, but a few essential Korean phrases can help you stay calm and get help fast. Learn how to describe your symptoms, ask for medical assistance, and thank healthcare staff during emergencies in Korea.

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Step 1. Describing Symptoms

When visiting a clinic or speaking to a pharmacist, keep your sentences short and clear. Use these basic phrases to explain how you feel — even without medical vocabulary, they’ll understand right away.

• 아파요. (apayo) — I’m sick / It hurts.
• 열 있어요. (yeol isseoyo) — I have a fever.
• 머리 아파요. (meori apayo) — I have a headache.
• 배 아파요. (bae apayo) — I have a stomachache.

Tip: You can point to the part of your body while saying “아파요” (“It hurts”) — Koreans will understand immediately without needing detailed explanations.

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Step 2. Asking for Help

If you need medical help or medicine, these phrases will get you the right assistance quickly. In Korea, dial 119 for both ambulance and fire emergencies — operators can often connect you to English support.

• 병원 어디예요? (byeong-won eodieyo) — Where is the hospital?
• 약국 열었어요? (yakguk yeoreosseoyo) — Is the pharmacy open?
• 119 전화해 주세요. (il-il-gu jeonhwahae juseyo) — Please call 119.

Tip: In Korea, many pharmacies close around 9 p.m., but hospital emergency rooms (응급실, eungeupsil) operate 24 hours. Look for the red “응급실” sign if you need urgent care.

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Step 3. Expressing Gratitude

After receiving help from a doctor, nurse, or passerby, these warm expressions will let them know how thankful you are.

• 도와주셔서 고마워요. (dowa jusyeoseo gomawoyo) — Thank you for helping me.
• 괜찮아졌어요. (gwaenchana jyeosseoyo) — I’m feeling better.
• 정말 감사합니다. (jeongmal gamsa hamnida) — Thank you so much.

Tip: Korean medical staff are usually very caring and patient with foreign visitors. A sincere “정말 감사합니다” always leaves a positive impression.

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Useful Korean for Medical Emergencies

• 아파요. (apayo) — I’m sick / It hurts.
• 열 있어요. (yeol isseoyo) — I have a fever.
• 병원 어디예요? (byeong-won eodieyo) — Where is the hospital?
• 119 전화해 주세요. (il-il-gu jeonhwahae juseyo) — Please call 119.
• 정말 감사합니다. (jeongmal gamsa hamnida) — Thank you so much.

🌿 Part of the Korean Travel Phrases You’ll Actually Use — From Arrival to Home series — Learn real Korean you’ll actually use on your trip.
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