Getting sick or injured while traveling can be stressful, especially when you are unfamiliar with the local healthcare system. This guide explains where to find emergency rooms, pediatric care, general clinics and pharmacies in Gangneung.
Quick Answer
● If it is a serious or life-threatening emergency
Call 119 for an ambulance. The emergency operator can dispatch help and take you to an appropriate emergency room.
● If you need emergency medical care
Go to Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung Dongin Hospital or Gangneung Medical Center. Gangneung Asan Hospital is the main regional center for severe or complex emergencies.
● If your child is sick but it is not an emergency
I & Mom Pediatrics provides pediatric care and operates as a Moonlight Children’s Hospital, including service on weekends and public holidays. Confirm current consultation hours and registration availability before visiting.
● If you have a minor illness
Search for a nearby clinic on NAVER Map or E-Gen. Choose the relevant specialty and check the clinic’s current opening hours before you travel.
● If you only need medicine
Look for a pharmacy marked 약국 (yakguk). For late-night needs, first check pharmacies near your location; Gujeong Plaza Pharmacy is an option when nearby pharmacies are closed.
1. Emergency Situations & Emergency Rooms
● For a serious emergency, call 119
Call 119 if someone has severe difficulty breathing, loses consciousness or has severely reduced consciousness. An ambulance will take the patient to an appropriate medical facility.
If possible, prepare the patient’s passport or photo ID, current medications, allergies and relevant medical history. Emergency departments prioritize patients by medical severity, so waiting times can vary.
● Gangneung Asan Hospital
Korean name: 강릉아산병원
Address: 38 Bangdong-gil, Sacheon-myeon, Gangneung-si
Main phone: 033-610-3114
Gangneung Asan Hospital operates a Regional Emergency Medical Center and is the main option for serious or complex emergencies in the Gangneung area. Patients are treated according to severity rather than arrival order. Non-emergency patients may be directed to outpatient care or another medical facility.
● Gangneung Dongin Hospital
Korean name: 강릉동인병원
Address: 42 Gangneung-daero 419beon-gil, Gangneung-si
Main phone: 033-650-6161
Gangneung Dongin Hospital is a general hospital in central Gangneung with emergency medical services. Call ahead when possible if you are unsure which department you need.
● Gangneung Medical Center
Korean name: 강원특별자치도강릉의료원
Address: 2007 Gyeonggang-ro, Gangneung-si
Emergency room: 033-610-1233 / 033-610-1234
Gangneung Medical Center operates its emergency room 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
2. General Clinics & Pediatric Care
● If your child gets sick
For a non-emergency pediatric illness, a local pediatric clinic may be more practical than an emergency room. If the child has a serious or rapidly worsening condition, call 119 or go directly to an emergency room.
● I & Mom Pediatrics
Korean name: 아이앤맘소아청소년과의원
Address: 21 Okga-ro, Gangneung-si
Phone: 033-645-7512
I & Mom Pediatrics is a pediatric clinic and a designated Moonlight Children’s Hospital. It can be useful for non-emergency pediatric care on weekends and public holidays.
Local tip: I & Mom Pediatrics is popular with local families, so waiting times can be long, especially on weekends and holidays. Check current consultation hours and registration availability before visiting. For a serious condition, call 119 or use an emergency room.
● Finding a nearby clinic
Use NAVER Map to search near your current location. Useful Korean search terms include:
- 내과 — Internal Medicine
- 이비인후과 — ENT
- 정형외과 — Orthopedics
- 피부과 — Dermatology
- 소아청소년과 — Pediatrics
- 치과 — Dentist
- 안과 — Ophthalmology
You can also use the official E-Gen Emergency Medical Information Service to look for medical facilities and pharmacies. Always verify current hours before traveling.
3. Pharmacies
● How pharmacies work in Korea
Pharmacies in Korea are marked 약국 (yakguk). Some over-the-counter medicines are available without a prescription, while other medicines require a doctor’s prescription.
For a minor symptom, explain the problem to the pharmacist and ask which non-prescription medicine may be suitable. Tell the pharmacist about allergies, existing conditions and any other medicines you are taking.
● If you need medicine late at night — Gujeong Plaza Pharmacy
Gujeong Plaza Pharmacy can be considered when pharmacies near your accommodation have closed.
Korean name: 구정프라자약국
Address: 447 Beomil-ro, Gujeong-myeon, Gangneung-si
Phone: 033-642-3474
Hours: 08:00–23:00
Open daily, including weekends and public holidays.
The Gujeong area has several pharmacies that stay open late. First check pharmacies close to your current location. If those are closed, consider Gujeong Plaza Pharmacy.
Local tip: Gujeong is some distance from major visitor areas such as Gangneung Station, Jungang Market and Gyeongpo. Depending on your location, you may need a taxi or car. Opening hours can change, so confirm the latest information before traveling a long distance.
4. What International Travelers Should Know
● Hospital registration and identification
International visitors can use hospitals and clinics in Korea. Bring your passport or another photo ID. Registration requirements can vary by medical facility.
● Medical costs
Short-term visitors are generally not covered by Korean National Health Insurance and may need to pay medical costs directly. The final cost can be difficult to predict in advance, so travel insurance is strongly recommended.
● Travel insurance
Keep medical receipts, itemized medical bills, prescriptions, pharmacy receipts and any medical certificate or confirmation of treatment. If you need documents in English, ask the hospital whether they can issue them before you leave.
● If you do not speak Korean
Do not assume that English support will be available at every medical facility. The official 1330 Korea Travel Helpline and a translation app may help with basic communication.
Prepare your current symptoms, when they started, medications, drug allergies and existing medical conditions. For a child, also prepare the child’s age and weight.
● Useful Korean words
- 병원 — Hospital
- 응급실 — Emergency Room
- 소아청소년과 — Pediatrics
- 약국 — Pharmacy
- 구급차 — Ambulance
- 아파요 — I am sick / It hurts
- 열이 나요 — I have a fever
- 알레르기가 있어요 — I have an allergy
When taking a taxi, showing the Korean name of the hospital or clinic on your phone can be more helpful than saying the English name.
5. Before You Leave the Hospital
Before leaving, make sure you understand the treatment plan and collect everything you may need later:
- Prescription
- Medication instructions
- Medical receipts
- Itemized medical bill, if needed
- Documents required for travel insurance
- Follow-up instructions
- What to do if the condition gets worse