Essential Korean Phrases for Buying Medicine at a Pharmacy

When you are in Korea and feel sick, going to a pharmacy is often faster and easier than visiting a hospital. Many common medicines such as cold medicine, painkillers, and digestive aids can be purchased directly without a prescription.

However, buying medicine at a Korean pharmacy can feel intimidating if you don’t know what to say. This guide focuses on real Korean expressions you can actually use when speaking to a pharmacist. Each phrase is explained with Korean, Romanized pronunciation, and English meaning, so you can speak with confidence.

 

Let’s start with the most basic and essential expressions you need the moment you walk into a pharmacy in Korea.

🩺 Basic Korean Expressions for Pharmacies

Before you ask for specific medicine, you need a few basic and polite Korean expressions to start the conversation. In Korean pharmacies, communication is usually short, direct, but still very polite.

 

Even if your Korean is limited, using simple respectful phrases helps the pharmacist understand you faster and creates a much smoother interaction. You don’t need perfect grammar — you just need the right expressions.

 

In this section, you’ll learn the exact phrases Koreans commonly use when entering a pharmacy, asking for medicine, or checking whether a prescription is required.

 

💬 Common Starter Phrases at a Pharmacy

Korean	Romanization	English Meaning
안녕하세요	annyeonghaseyo	Hello (polite)
약 좀 주세요	yak jom juseyo	Please give me some medicine
감기약 있어요?	gamgi-yak isseoyo?	Do you have cold medicine?
진통제 찾고 있어요	jintongje chatgo isseoyo	I’m looking for painkillers
처방전 없이 살 수 있어요?	cheobangjeon eopsi sal su isseoyo?	Can I buy this without a prescription?

 

💡 Important Tip: In Korea, many medicines such as cold medicine, painkillers, and digestive aids are sold as over-the-counter medicine. However, antibiotics almost always require a prescription from a doctor.

 

Once you can confidently use these starter phrases, you’re ready to move on to the next step — asking specifically for over-the-counter medicine by type or purpose.

 

💊 Asking for Over-the-Counter Medicine

In Korea, many common medications can be purchased directly from a pharmacy without a prescription. These are called "일반의약품" (ilban uiyakpum), or over-the-counter medicine. To ask for them, you need to know how to describe what you’re looking for — by category, by symptom, or by use.

 

Let’s look at phrases you can use to ask for general medicine types like digestive aids, allergy medicine, or skin ointments. These are very useful especially when you're not feeling well enough to explain symptoms in detail.

 

You can use the structure "[medicine category] 있어요?" which means “Do you have [medicine]?” or say "[medicine] 주세요" to request it directly. Let’s learn how to apply that!

 

📦 Useful Phrases for Requesting OTC Medicine

Korean	Romanization	English Meaning
소화제 있어요?	sohwaje isseoyo?	Do you have digestive medicine?
알레르기약 주세요	allerugi-yak juseyo	Please give me allergy medicine
지사제 있어요?	jisaje isseoyo?	Do you have anti-diarrheal medicine?
연고 주세요	yeongo juseyo	Please give me ointment
파스 있어요?	paseu isseoyo?	Do you have a pain relief patch?

 

💡 Pro Tip: In Korea, a “파스 (paseu)” is a very common item. It’s a patch with menthol or medicine you apply to your skin for muscle pain. Most pharmacies have a variety of them, so don’t hesitate to ask!

 

Now that you've learned how to ask for general over-the-counter items, we’ll move to the next step — how to specifically ask for cold medicine or painkillers, two of the most commonly needed medicines by travelers.

 

🤧 Buying Cold Medicine and Painkillers

If you're traveling in Korea, catching a cold or feeling muscle pain can happen at any time. Luckily, you can buy most cold medicine and painkillers without a prescription. These are among the most frequently requested items in Korean pharmacies.

 

But instead of listing brand names (which may not be familiar), it’s better to describe your symptoms or directly ask for “cold medicine” or “painkillers” in Korean. Most pharmacists will understand your need right away if you use the right keywords.

 

Here are natural Korean expressions to use when you're looking for medicine for colds, fever, or general pain. These phrases are simple but effective — and you can use them in most pharmacies across Korea.

 

🧊 Expressions for Cold and Pain Relief Medicine

Korean	Romanization	English Meaning
감기약 주세요	gamgi-yak juseyo	Please give me cold medicine
기침약 있어요?	gichim-yak isseoyo?	Do you have cough medicine?
열 내리는 약 있어요?	yeol naerineun yak isseoyo?	Do you have fever medicine?
두통약 주세요	dutong-yak juseyo	Please give me headache medicine
진통제 있어요?	jintongje isseoyo?	Do you have painkillers?

 

💡 Useful Tip: If you need cold medicine, Korean pharmacists may give you a small pack with 2-3 tablets labeled for morning, afternoon, and night. If you have a specific symptom like cough or runny nose, be sure to mention that using phrases like “기침이 있어요” (I have a cough) or “콧물이 나요” (I have a runny nose).

 

In the next section, we’ll look at how to explain your symptoms clearly to the pharmacist. This is helpful when you’re not sure what kind of medicine to ask for directly.

 

🗣️ Explaining Symptoms to a Pharmacist

When you don’t know the name of the medicine you need, the best approach is to describe your symptoms. Pharmacists in Korea are trained to give you the right over-the-counter medicine based on your condition, but they need to understand your problem clearly.

 

The following Korean phrases help you explain what you’re feeling. Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, these phrases are commonly understood. Many pharmacists have experience with foreign customers, so speaking slowly and clearly is enough.

 

Let’s go over basic symptom expressions, which you can combine with the phrases you learned in previous sections like “약 주세요” or “약 있어요?”.

 

📋 Useful Expressions to Describe Symptoms

Korean	Romanization	English Meaning
두통이 있어요	dutongi isseoyo	I have a headache
배가 아파요	baega apayo	My stomach hurts
열이 나요	yeori nayo	I have a fever
몸살이에요	momsariyeyo	My whole body aches
콧물이 나요	konmuri nayo	I have a runny nose

 

💡 Helpful Tip: If you're not sure how to describe your symptom, you can simply point to the body part and say “여기가 아파요” (yeogiga apayo) — "It hurts here." It’s a simple but effective way to communicate pain or discomfort.

 

In the next section, you’ll learn how to ask about how to take medicine (dosage), when to take it, and whether there are any side effects. These questions are especially helpful if you’re taking medicine for the first time or mixing it with something else.

 

🕒 Asking About Dosage and Side Effects

After receiving medicine, you may want to ask how and when to take it. In Korea, pharmacists often include instructions, but they may be in Korean only. That’s why it’s useful to know a few key phrases to ask about dosage, frequency, and side effects.

 

If you’re taking other medications, it's especially important to ask if there's any risk. Use the following phrases to check how many times a day you should take the medicine, whether it should be taken before or after eating, and if there are any known reactions.

 

These polite questions are simple, but they show you care about using medicine correctly. Pharmacists will appreciate the effort and will try to answer clearly, even using gestures or writing it down for you.

 

💬 Questions About How to Take Medicine

Korean	Romanization	English Meaning
어떻게 먹어요?	eotteoke meogeoyo?	How do I take this?
하루에 몇 번 먹어요?	harue myeot beon meogeoyo?	How many times a day do I take it?
식전이에요? 식후예요?	sikjeon-ieyo? sikhu-yeyo?	Before meals? After meals?
부작용 있어요?	bujakyong isseoyo?	Are there any side effects?
다른 약이랑 같이 먹어도 돼요?	dareun yakirang gachi meogeodo dwaeyo?	Can I take it with other medicine?

 

💡 Tip: In Korean pharmacies, if you ask about dosage, the pharmacist may say something like “하루 세 번, 식후에” (haru se beon, sikhu-e) which means “Three times a day, after meals.” Listen for numbers like 한 번 (once), 두 번 (twice), 세 번 (three times), and time words like 식전 (before meals), 식후 (after meals).

 

In the next section, let’s go beyond language and look at some cultural tips that can help you feel more comfortable and confident when visiting a Korean pharmacy as a foreigner.

 

🏪 Pharmacy Culture Tips in Korea

If it’s your first time visiting a pharmacy in Korea, you might notice a few differences from what you’re used to. Pharmacies are usually small, privately owned shops with a pharmacist at the counter. You don’t usually walk around browsing — instead, you go straight to the counter and tell the pharmacist what you need.

 

Unlike large Western-style drugstores, Korean pharmacies don’t always have shelves full of products. Instead, most of the medicine is stored behind the counter. So it’s normal to ask directly rather than look around for it yourself.

 

Also, many pharmacists will ask you about your symptoms before giving you medicine — even if you ask for something specific. This is part of Korean health culture and shows that they want to make sure the medicine is appropriate for you.

 

🇰🇷 Cultural Points to Know at Korean Pharmacies

Point	Korean Expression	Romanization
Go straight to the counter	바로 카운터로 가요	baro kaunteoro gayo
Ask for medicine directly	약 바로 말해요	yak baro malhaeyo
Be ready to explain symptoms	증상 말할 준비해요	jeungsang malhal junbihaeyo
Most items are behind the counter	약은 대부분 안에 있어요	yakeun daebubun ane isseoyo
No prescription needed for many items	처방전 없어도 돼요	cheobangjeon eops-eodo dwaeyo

 

💡 Helpful Tip: Most pharmacies in Korea close by 8 or 9 PM. For 24-hour access, look for “야간 약국” (night pharmacies), especially in major cities like Seoul or Busan. You can also use apps like 네이버 지도 (Naver Maps) to search for “약국” near you.

 

Now that you’ve learned language AND cultural tips, you’re fully prepared to walk into a pharmacy in Korea and get exactly what you need — politely, clearly, and confidently.

 

📌 FAQ

Q1. How do you say "I need medicine" in Korean?

 

You can say "약이 필요해요" (yagi piryohhaeyo), which means "I need medicine."

 

Q2. Can I buy cold medicine without a prescription in Korea?

 

Yes, cold medicine is usually sold over the counter. You can say "감기약 있어요?" (gamgi-yak isseoyo?).

 

Q3. How do I ask for painkillers?

 

Say "진통제 주세요" (jintongje juseyo) for “Please give me painkillers.”

 

Q4. What’s the Korean word for pharmacist?

 

It’s 약사 (yaksa). You can politely address them as "약사님".

 

Q5. Can I ask about side effects at the pharmacy?

 

Yes, say "부작용 있어요?" (bujakyong isseoyo?) to ask about side effects.

 

Q6. How do I say "I have a fever" in Korean?

 

Use "열이 나요" (yeori nayo), which means “I have a fever.”

 

Q7. What should I say if I have a stomachache?

 

Say "배가 아파요" (baega apayo), meaning “My stomach hurts.”

 

Q8. Are there English-speaking pharmacists in Korea?

 

Some speak basic English, especially in big cities. But it's best to know simple Korean phrases.

 

Q9. Can I point to my body part and explain the problem?

 

Yes! Saying "여기가 아파요" (yeogiga apayo) while pointing is helpful.

 

Q10. How do I say "cough medicine" in Korean?

 

Use "기침약" (gichim-yak) to refer to cough medicine.

 

Q11. Can I ask for children’s medicine?

 

Yes, say "어린이용 약 있어요?" (eorini-yong yak isseoyo?).

 

Q12. How do I ask for ointment?

 

Say "연고 주세요" (yeongo juseyo), which means “Please give me ointment.”

 

Q13. What if I can’t read the label?

 

Ask the pharmacist to explain: "이거 어떻게 먹어요?" (igeo eotteoke meogeoyo?)

 

Q14. Can I bring someone to translate?

 

Of course! Many people do that, especially for more complex symptoms.

 

Q15. Is it okay to use translation apps at the pharmacy?

 

Yes, apps like Papago or Google Translate are commonly used by foreigners in Korea.

Q16. How do I say "headache" in Korean?

 

It’s "두통" (dutong). For medicine, say "두통약 있어요?" (dutong-yak isseoyo?).

 

Q17. Can I get medicine for motion sickness?

 

Yes! Ask for "멀미약 있어요?" (meolmiyak isseoyo?) – motion sickness medicine.

 

Q18. How do I ask if the medicine makes you drowsy?

 

Say "이 약 졸려요?" (i yak jollyeoyo?) – "Does this medicine make me sleepy?"

 

Q19. Can I return medicine in Korea?

 

Usually no, unless it’s unopened and same-day. Returns are rare due to regulation.

 

Q20. What if I lost the instruction slip?

 

Go back to the same pharmacy and ask for new instructions. Say "복용법 다시 주세요" (bokyongbeop dasi juseyo).

 

Q21. How do I ask about allergy information?

 

Say "알레르기 있어요. 괜찮아요?" (allerugi isseoyo. gwaenchanayo?) – “I have allergies. Is this okay?”

 

Q22. Are all Korean pharmacies the same?

 

Most are small, local, and operated by one pharmacist. Chain pharmacies exist but are rare.

 

Q23. Can I use a credit card at Korean pharmacies?

 

Yes, most accept cards, but it’s safer to carry some cash just in case.

 

Q24. Do pharmacies open on weekends?

 

Yes, many do! But hours may be shorter on Sundays. Check with “약국” on Naver Maps.

 

Q25. What is a "yakguk"?

 

"약국" (yakguk) is the Korean word for pharmacy.

 

Q26. Is there a word for "medicine" in general?

 

Yes — "약" (yak) is the word for any kind of medicine.

 

Q27. Can I find herbal or traditional medicine at pharmacies?

 

Not usually. Go to a 한의원 (hanuiwon) for traditional Korean medicine.

 

Q28. Is it okay to ask the pharmacist to write things down?

 

Absolutely. Say "적어주세요" (jeogeo juseyo) – “Please write it down.”

 

Q29. Can I say "I'm not feeling well"?

 

Yes. Say "몸이 안 좋아요" (momi an joayo) – “I’m not feeling well.”

 

Q30. How can I politely end the conversation?

 

Say "감사합니다" (gamsahamnida) with a bow. Politeness goes a long way!