Buying Medicine Without Prescription in Korean
How to buy over-the-counter medicine at Korean pharmacies — headache pills, cold medicine, digestive aids.
두통약 있어요?
du-tong-yak iss-eo-yo?
Do you have headache medicine?
소화제 주세요.
so-hwa-je ju-se-yo
Please give me digestive medicine.
감기약 주세요.
gam-gi-yak ju-se-yo
Please give me cold medicine.
해열제 있어요?
hae-yeol-je iss-eo-yo?
Do you have fever reducer?
처방전 없이도 되나요?
cheo-bang-jeon eops-i-do doe-na-yo?
Can I get this without a prescription?
가장 잘 듣는 거 주세요.
ga-jang jal deut-neun geo ju-se-yo
Give me the most effective one.
What you can buy without a prescription
Many basic medicines are available over the counter in Korea: pain relievers, cold medicine, digestive aids, and allergy medicine.
How to ask
Simply describe your symptoms to the pharmacist, and they'll recommend the right medicine.
Convenience store vs pharmacy
Some very basic medicines like band-aids and pain patches are sold at convenience stores. But most medicine requires going to a pharmacy (약국).
Price
OTC medicines in Korea are generally affordable, usually between 3,000-10,000 won ($2-8).
Tip
Common OTC medicines: 타이레놀 (Tylenol), 판콜 (cold medicine), 겔포스 (antacid). Just say the name or describe your symptoms.
Useful links
Related articles
Korean Phrases for Getting Medicine at a Pharmacy
Essential Korean phrases when picking up prescription medicine at a Korean pharmacy.
Understanding Korean Medicine Dosage Instructions
How to understand medicine dosage instructions in Korean — before/after meals, times per day, and important warnings.