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Getting Sick in Korea? What Foreigners MUST Know About Korean Pharmacies

By Editor-in-Chief|Published: August 22, 2026 at 12:06 PM
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Regular pharmacies and herbal pharmacies in South Korea have a fundamental difference based on the founder's license (Pharmacist vs. Herbal Pharmacist) and the main scope of medicines handled. Here is a summary of the key differences between Western medicine-focused and traditional herbal medicine-focused pharmacies.

Key Differences at a Glance

Category Regular Pharmacy Herbal Pharmacy
License Required Licensed Pharmacist Licensed Herbal Pharmacist
University Major College of Pharmacy (Dept. of Pharmacy) College of Pharmacy (Dept. of Herbal Pharmacy)
Prescription Dispensing Prescriptions from regular clinics/hospitals (Western drugs) Prescriptions from traditional Korean medicine clinics (Herbal drugs)
Direct Dispensing (No Rx) Not allowed (Doctor's prescription required) Allowed within 100 traditional formulas designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
Main Products Handled Prescription drugs, Over-The-Counter (OTC) drugs, quasi-drugs, etc. Herbal medicines, herbal preparations, and OTC drugs (under current law)

1. Differences in License and Major

A Pharmacist (Regular Pharmacy) is a professional who has graduated from a college of pharmacy and passed the national pharmacist licensing exam. They specialize in pharmacology and chemically synthesized medicines based on Western medicine.

On the other hand, an Herbal Pharmacist (Herbal Pharmacy) is a professional who has graduated from the department of herbal pharmacy and passed the national herbal pharmacist licensing exam. They specialize in herbal ingredients and preparations based on traditional Korean medicine.

2. Prescription and Dispensing Authority

Regular pharmacies dispense medicine based on prescriptions issued by general clinics or hospitals (e.g., internal medicine, pediatrics). They cannot dispense prescription drugs without a doctor's order.

The most distinctive feature of an herbal pharmacy is that they can directly prepare and dispense herbal medicine after consulting with a consumer, without a doctor's prescription, limited to 100 traditional formulas recorded in recognized ancient medical texts (such as Dongui Bogam) by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drug Controversy This is the most confusing area for consumers. Under current pharmacy laws, herbal pharmacists can also open a pharmacy. Therefore, it is perfectly legal for herbal pharmacies to sell Western-based OTC drugs like Tylenol or cold medicine. However, they are strictly prohibited from handling "prescription drugs" that require a doctor's prescription.
Visual Identification Tip: If the sign or window says "No Prescription Dispensing" (μ²˜λ°©μ „ μ‘°μ œλŠ” ν•˜μ§€ μ•ŠμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€), or if there is a large traditional herbal medicine cabinet (with many small wooden drawers) taking up significant space inside the store, it is highly likely an herbal pharmacy.

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Getting Sick in Korea? What Foreigners MUST Know About Korean Pharmacies | CEO Daily Brief