Although health care in South Korea is not free, it is heavily subsidized by the government and is very cheap compared to the United States. For expat workers who have a medical insurance card (this is required), it is even less expensive (although still not free).

Most doctors speak at least some English, typically peppered with medical terms that might be unfamiliar to most people. In general, the larger hospitals in big cities will be more able to accommodate people with little or no command of the Korean language.

In addition to Western medicine, Oriental medicine is quite popular in Korea. Herbal supplements can be bought in most pharmacies as well as from shops which produce their own. The most popular herbal supplements (such as Ginseng) can even be bought in convenience stores in the form of energy drinks, tea, gum, and alcohol.

Pharmacies are usually located near hospitals, as hospitals in Korea are not allowed to dispense take-home prescriptions; prescriptions are dispensed in small paper packages. No special vaccinations are required to enter Korea from most countries -- check your local consulate for details.

Visitors should be careful to get relevant hepatitis vaccinations. Hepatitis A, which is transmitted through food and water, is particularly rampant, with the Center for Disease Control estimating the chance of infection at 1% per month of stay. Korea has a disproportionately large infection rate, mostly attributed to food-sharing practices. Those who are unvaccinated should avoid the traditional side dishes served with all meals, as it is commonplace to recycle them from the last user (much like bread baskets in the west).