So you're wandering around Gangnam at 11:30 PM and suddenly need some headache medicine. Or maybe your kid gets a fever in the middle of the night at your hotel. What do you do?
Seoul actually has pharmacies that stay open way past normal hours. They're called public late-night pharmacies and holiday guardian pharmacies. But finding them as a tourist can be tricky if you don't know where to look.
The Smart Seoul Map Works in English
The easiest way? Pull up Smart Seoul Map on your phone. It's Seoul's official mapping service and it works in English, Japanese, and Chinese.
Just switch the language setting and look for the public late-night pharmacy theme. You'll see all the pharmacies operating from 10 PM to 1 AM marked on the map. The 365-day ones show up in a different color than the ones with specific schedules.
Each listing shows the pharmacy name, exact address, phone number, and operating hours. Super straightforward.
Call 120 for English Help
Don't want to mess with apps? Just dial 120. That's Seoul's Dasan Call Center and they have English-speaking operators 24/7.
Tell them you need a pharmacy open late. They'll check what's near you and give you the address and phone number. You can even say English service please when they pick up.
The operators know which pharmacies have English-speaking staff too. Not all do, but some of the bigger ones in tourist areas usually have someone who can help.
Your Hotel Knows Too
Here's something tourists often miss. Your hotel concierge probably has a list of nearby late-night pharmacies. Most hotels in Seoul keep this info handy because guests ask all the time.
They might even call ahead for you to check if the pharmacy has what you need.
The Holiday Guardian System
Besides the regular late-night pharmacies, Seoul has something called holiday guardian pharmacies. These are different pharmacies that take turns staying open on weekends and holidays.
You can check which ones are open today at the Pharm114 website. It's run by the Korean Pharmaceutical Association and has an English version. Just put in the date, time, and area (like Seoul) and it shows you what's open right now.
What About Prescription Medicine?
Got a prescription from a Korean hospital or clinic? These late-night pharmacies can fill it. Just bring the prescription paper.
If you have a prescription from your home country, that's more complicated. Not all pharmacies will accept foreign prescriptions. Better to see a doctor here first if you need prescription meds.
Emergency? Call 119
For real emergencies, don't waste time searching. Call 119. They speak English and can direct you to the nearest open pharmacy or hospital.
They'll even tell you if you really need a pharmacy or should head straight to the emergency room instead.
Some Actual Locations That Stay Open Late
In Gangnam, there's Nova Pharmacy on Gangnam-daero that's open until midnight every day. In Jongno, Ildeung Pharmacy stays open from 10 PM to 1 AM all year round.
These hours can change though. Always call first to double-check they're still open before making the trip.
Quick Tips for Finding Late-Night Pharmacies
Portal maps like Naver and Kakao work too. Search for pharmacy or night pharmacy in English. The results show operating hours.
The emergency medical information app from Korea's health ministry supports multiple languages. It uses your location to find the nearest open pharmacy automatically.
Remember that most of these late-night places close by 1 AM. Only a handful stay open 24 hours. If you need something after 1 AM, you might have to wait until morning or head to a hospital.
Bottom line? Seoul has decent late-night pharmacy coverage, especially compared to many other cities. You just need to know where to look. The Smart Seoul Map and calling 120 are your best bets as a foreign tourist. Save those numbers in your phone before you need them.