An international clinic in Seoul built around expats

What an international clinic in Seoul should do for you

Korean healthcare is fast, modern and affordable, but for a newcomer it can be hard to navigate. Hospital signs and forms are mostly in Korean, specialists work in separate clinics, and it is not always obvious whether you need a small clinic or a large hospital. An international clinic bridges that gap.

At VEI Clinic, our medical director Dr. HyunSung Park is a board-certified internal medicine specialist with a gastroenterology subspecialty. He graduated from the State University of New York, is ECFMG certified and is a former clinical professor at Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital. He has treated patients in Korea since 2010, and every consultation is one-to-one in English.

We see adult expats, international students, business travelers and long-stay visitors. The sections below give an overview of what we offer, and the related pages go into each service in detail.

Services for international patients

If you need something we do not provide, such as endoscopy, surgery, dental care or emergency treatment, we can refer you to a hospital and give you an English summary to take with you.

• Primary care and walk-in visits: colds, flu, fever, cough, stomach problems, urinary infections, rashes and allergies
• Long-term conditions: blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, thyroid disease, reflux and other digestive problems
• Checkups and physicals: annual checkups, executive health and forms for work, visa or school
• Diagnostics: blood tests, thyroid and abdominal ultrasound, H. pylori, hepatitis B, hormone, allergy and nutritional testing
• Vaccinations: flu shots and hepatitis B, with other vaccines available on request depending on supply
• IV therapy and injections, medical weight loss, and functional and longevity medicine, each with an honest discussion of what the evidence supports

Practical help with the Korean system

Much of what makes care hard for expats is not medical. We help with the practical side too, explaining as we go so you feel more confident next time.

Medicines are one example. Brand names in Korea are often different, and some medicines common elsewhere are not sold here. Bring the box or prescription for anything you take regularly, and Dr. Park can find a suitable Korean equivalent where it is appropriate. Prescriptions are filled at a pharmacy outside the clinic, and we explain how that works.

Insurance is another. Foreign residents who stay in Korea for six months or more are generally required to join the National Health Insurance Service, which covers most medical consultations with a co-payment. Visitors and those not yet enrolled pay directly. Either way, we tell you the cost before any test or treatment, and provide an itemized English receipt and medical notes for private or travel insurers.

Who our international clinic suits

We suit adults who want continuity with one English-speaking doctor, people with existing conditions who need care to continue after a move, and travelers who become unwell while in Seoul. Professionals with limited time often use our Tuesday evening and Saturday hours.

Dr. Park is an internal medicine specialist, so children should contact us before visiting so we can advise whether we can help. We are also not an emergency service. Some official exams, such as certain immigration or aviation medicals, must be done at designated centers; bring the form and we will tell you whether we can complete it.

Emergencies: when to call 119

In Korea, the emergency number for an ambulance is 119. Operators can often connect you to interpretation help. Do not come to the clinic first if you have any of the following; call 119 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

• Chest pain, severe shortness of breath or fainting
• Stroke signs: facial droop, arm weakness or slurred speech
• Severe allergic reaction with throat or tongue swelling
• Heavy bleeding, vomiting blood or black stool
• Sudden severe headache, confusion or a seizure

Finding us

VEI Clinic is on the 3rd floor of Beneheim City, the Jamba Juice building, at 162 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, about a one-minute walk from Apgujeong Station Exit 5 on Line 3. We are open Monday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 to 19:00, Tuesday 10:00 to 20:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 16:00, with a weekday lunch break 13:00 to 14:00. We are closed Wednesday and Sunday.