Do Tourists Need Health Insurance in Korea? What the Official Sources Say
Short answer: Korea does not require visitors to buy health insurance as a condition of entry, as far as the official pages we checked show. Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) is designed for people who live and work in the country, and its English guidance for foreigners is written for residents, not short-term tourists. If you fall ill or get injured during a trip, you should plan to pay for treatment yourself unless a travel insurance policy covers it. Whether you actually buy a policy is your decision, and a policy’s terms are what decide what it pays.
None of the official pages we read states a price for visitor treatment or lists a tourist insurance product, so this guide does not quote any. It explains what the sources do say, where to find emergency and hospital help, and what to look at when you compare policies.
What NHIS says about who is covered
NHIS describes itself as the single insurer providing health insurance to people living in Korea. On its English guidance page for foreigners, enrolment is described for these groups:
| Group | What the NHIS English page says |
|---|---|
| Employees at an insured workplace | Foreigners and overseas Koreans who reside and work at the insured company are enrolled compulsorily. An exclusion may be requested if equivalent medical coverage exists under foreign law, insurance or an employment contract. |
| Self-employed (regional) subscribers | Foreigners registered with the immigration office with a qualifying sojourn status, and overseas Koreans who have reported a Korean address. The page also refers to a stay of more than six months. |
| Short-term visitors / tourists | Not addressed on the page. |
Based on NHIS English pages read on November 3, 2026.
The silence about tourists matters. NHIS enrolment is tied to being registered as a resident or working at an insured workplace, so a person arriving on a short visit is not obviously in the system. NHIS does not say “tourists are excluded” in so many words, so if your situation is unusual (for example a long visa-free stay), ask NHIS directly. The NHIS call center is 1577-1000 and the English consultant line is 033-811-2000.
If you are going to live in Korea rather than visit, the rules are different; NHIS enrolment can become compulsory for residents.
Medical costs for visitors
VISITKOREA’s emergency page lists hospitals and phone numbers, but it states nothing about medical costs or insurance, and tells readers to contact the hospitals for those details. VISITKOREA’s medical tourism tips page also says nothing about insurance or treatment prices. In other words, the official tourism sources do not give you a price list, and you should not rely on blog figures. Ask the hospital for an estimate before non-emergency treatment, and keep all receipts and medical reports if you plan to claim from an insurer.
Emergency numbers listed by VISITKOREA
| Service | Number on the VISITKOREA page |
|---|---|
| Police | 112 |
| Fire | 119 |
| Medical emergencies | 119 |
| Infectious disease emergencies | 1339 |
| 1330 Korea Travel Hotline | +82-2-1330 (languages listed: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay) |
From the VISITKOREA page, which states it was last updated on September 11, 2026 and warns that information may differ. Check before you travel.
The page also offers a free online call (no charge on Wi-Fi, though data charges may apply) and a chat that needs no download. Diplomatic missions in Korea are listed under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mofa.go.kr), with Korean and English as the languages.
Hospitals with international desks
The same page lists 14 hospitals with International Health Care Centers that provide interpreters through the whole process and follow-up appointments. Examples include Seoul Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, and Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, and Inje University Paik Hospital in Busan. Each has an inquiry number for English; for instance Severance Hospital lists +82-2-2228-5800.
Two cautions from the page itself: the listed inquiry hours are weekdays during the day (roughly 08:00 to 17:30, varying by hospital), and all of these hospitals are closed on weekends and public holidays. The page does not tell you which of these services are free, so ask.
Medical tourism: a different situation
If you are coming to Korea specifically for treatment, VISITKOREA’s tips page describes “facilitators”, private companies that can arrange hospital reservations, medical staff information, vehicles and interpreting. It points to the Medical Tourism Business Center operated by the Korea Tourism Organization for vetted hospitals and facilitators. The page also notes that:
- Patients using a facilitator designated by the Ministry of Justice may be able to apply for a medical visa (e-visa) and waive the affidavit of financial support.
- The designation lasts one year, so confirm the current status before booking.
- Visa-free stays run from 15 to 180 days depending on nationality (check HiKorea), and visa-free entry is risky if an unexpected illness leads to prolonged hospitalization.
What to check in a travel insurance policy
We did not find an official English page that explains travel insurance products, so this section is general and not advice. Look at the policy wording, and ask the insurer, about:
- Medical expenses: is treatment abroad covered for both illness and injury, what is the limit, and is there a deductible?
- Emergency evacuation or repatriation: is transport to another hospital or home covered, and under what conditions (for example, a medical necessity decision)?
- Pre-existing conditions: are they excluded, limited, or covered if declared?
- Activities and exclusions: sports, alcohol-related incidents and similar items are commonly excluded.
- How to claim: does the insurer pay the hospital directly, or do you pay first and claim later? What documents are required?
- Policy dates: do they match your entry and exit dates exactly?
Quick checklist
- Do I know who to call in an emergency (119, and 1330 for interpreting help)?
- Have I saved the English inquiry number of a hospital near where I will stay?
- Does my policy cover medical expenses, evacuation and any pre-existing condition?
- Do I have the policy number and insurer contact on my phone?
- Will I keep receipts and medical reports for a claim?
Common mistakes
- Assuming Korea’s national insurance will pay for a tourist’s treatment.
- Buying a policy without checking exclusions and the evacuation conditions.
- Counting on hospital international desks outside weekday hours.
- Relying on blog prices for treatment rather than asking the hospital.
This guide is general information, not insurance, medical or legal advice. Confirm details with NHIS, the hospital and your insurer.
Sources
- NHIS (English): Guidance for foreigners
- NHIS (English): Health Security System
- VISITKOREA: Emergency Situations
- VISITKOREA: Tips on Korean Medical Tourism that Foreign Patients Should Know