Show someone Out and about
Show the Pharmacist
Tick what’s wrong, add your allergies and medicines, then tap Show the card at the pharmacy counter.
Korean wording last checked Oct 2026. Always confirm with the official source.
Emergency? Call 119 (free, interpreters available) for chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, fainting, a sudden severe allergic reaction, or a baby or young child with a high fever. This card helps you explain; it isn't medical advice.
약사님께
PreviewYour card will appear here
Tick at least one symptom to build your card.
How the card works
Each symptom you tick becomes a short, polite sentence a pharmacist would expect to hear, such as 머리가 아파요 ("my head hurts") or 속이 쓰려요 ("I have heartburn"). The card adds how long it has lasted, who the medicine is for, your medicine allergies and what you already take, then asks the pharmacist to explain how to take the medicine and to write it down. We never suggest a medicine or a dose: that's the pharmacist's job, and they can ask you follow-up questions.
Before you go
- Look for the 약 sign. Pharmacies (약국, yakguk) are common near clinics, subway stations and shopping streets. Many close on Sundays; E-Gen (e-gen.or.kr) shows pharmacies open right now.
- Prescription medicines need a doctor. Korea separates prescribing and dispensing, so medicines such as antibiotics need a prescription (처방전) from a clinic first.
- Bring the box. A photo of a medicine you use at home, or its active ingredient, helps the pharmacist find an equivalent.
- Children: convenience stores may not sell their basic medicines to anyone under 12, so go to a pharmacy. Add the child's age and weight in case the pharmacist asks.
When a pharmacy isn't enough
If symptoms last more than a few days, get worse, or you need a diagnosis, see a neighbourhood clinic (의원, uiwon). For anything sudden or severe, call 119. More numbers in emergency help.
Sources
Symptom words were checked in the National Institute of Korean Language'sStandard Korean Dictionary (for example멀미, 코막힘,생리통 and 숙취). Pharmacy facts come from our guide, which cites E-Gen, VisitKorea and Korea's Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
Questions people ask
Will the pharmacist recommend a medicine from this card?
The card describes your symptoms, how long you have had them, your allergies and what you already take, then asks the pharmacist for a suitable medicine and how to take it. It never names a medicine or a dose itself, so the choice stays with the pharmacist, who may ask you a few more questions.
Can a pharmacy give me antibiotics or other prescription medicines?
Not without a prescription. Korea separates prescribing and dispensing, so a clinic (의원) writes the prescription and any pharmacy fills it. If you think you need a prescription medicine, see a clinic first and take this card there too.
How do I find a pharmacy that is open late or on a Sunday?
Look for the 약 sign; pharmacies near big subway stations often keep longer hours. E-Gen (e-gen.or.kr), run by the National Emergency Medical Center, has a pharmacy finder in English that shows what is open now. Seoul also runs public late-night pharmacies, open 10 pm to 1 am.
Should I write my medicine allergies in English or Korean?
The common ones (penicillin, aspirin, ibuprofen-type painkillers, sulfa drugs) appear on the card in Korean. For anything else, type the active ingredient name as it appears on your packet; pharmacists recognise international drug names even when the brand is different in Korea.
Does the card work without mobile data?
Once this page has loaded, the card is built on your phone and your choices are saved in this browser, so you can open Show the card at the counter even with a weak signal. Nothing you enter is sent to us.