Essential Korean Phrases for Making a Hospital Appointment by Phone

When do you need these phrases?

When you're sick in Korea and need to see a doctor, the first step is usually calling the hospital to make an appointment. While some smaller clinics accept walk-ins, larger hospitals typically require a reservation.

How a typical phone reservation works

A typical hospital phone call in Korea follows this pattern: the receptionist answers with the hospital name, you state that you want to make an appointment, they ask which department or what symptoms you have, they suggest available times, and finally they confirm your name and phone number.

Important things to know

Korean hospitals usually don't require appointments far in advance. For general clinics (의원, ui-won), you can often get a same-day or next-day appointment. University hospitals (대학병원, dae-hak-byeong-won) may require longer waits.

If you have National Health Insurance (국민건강보험), make sure to bring your insurance card. Without it, you'll need to pay the full cost upfront.

What if I can't speak Korean on the phone?

You have several options: visit the hospital in person instead, ask a Korean friend to call for you, use the 1345 Foreigner Helpline for interpretation, or check if the hospital has an international clinic.