Informational handbook

Religious Services

English language services are available in Seoul and some other cities for all major Christian denominations. Religious services for foreigners are listed in the Saturday editions of the Korea Times and Korea Herald. Korean-language church services are everywhere - perhaps thirty percent of the Korean population are Christians. Jewish services are held on the U.S. military post in Seoul, but may not be regularly held elsewhere in Korea. There is a mosque in Seoul which has services in Arabic, Korean and English. A Buddhist Center known as Lotus Lantern is operated for the foreign community. There also are numerous temples and monasteries you may wish to visit.

Health and Medical Care

Preventive Medicine - If you are going to be living in Seoul or one of the other large urban centers while in Korea, you should be forewarned that all urban areas in Korea (but especially Seoul) have many of the problems of other large cities. Air and noise pollution may trouble you here and you may find yourself fatigued, especially in the first weeks, from the strain of living in both a foreign and a congested place. Besides the dangers stemming from pollution, there are other potential threats to your health linked to water and food. You should pay full attention to all the rules of hygiene, as you would anywhere, but with a few more sanitary precautions than in the U.S.
As in many places, water is the major concern. There are reliable water treatment plants in Seoul but tap water cannot be considered fully safe for drinking because of the unreliable condition of the water mains. After it has been boiled at a vigorous rolling boil for about five minutes, however, tap water may be used for drinking and all other purposes. If you wish to avoid this inconvenience you may arrange to have bottled water delivered to your home in most cities. This water is completely safe for drinking and is delivered regularly for a modest charge. Safe bottled water is also sold in every corner store. Likewise, the water served in tourist hotels is treated and is considered potable. Unboiled tap water anywhere else is suspect. The water served at most Korean restaurants is bottled or filtered and normally safe.
There are no easy answers in the area of preventive health. Those who wish to be totally safe from any possible contamination have no choice but to view the world from the inside of a hermetically sealed glass bubble. At the same time, the relatively short term visitor in a country like Korea probably should not emulate those long term expatriates who often eat and drink anything which doesn't move (and even some of those things which do!). Each Fulbrighter must decide how adventuresome to be.
Medical/Dental Care - There are competent physicians, surgeons and dentists in all the major cities. Many are American trained and speak English well. If you need medical or dental care, KAEC advises that you use the out patient clinics of hospitals rather than the numerous private clinics. The best hospitals in Seoul are Severance (which is associated with Yonsei University), the Asan Medical Center, St. Mary's Hospital, Samsung Hospital, Paek Hospital and the National Medical Center associated with Seoul National University. The Seoul branch of the U.S. Embassy website offers a list of English-speaking medical practitioners. If you have specific needs for OB/GYN services, we recommend Dr. Sung’s OG/GYN clinic, at 790-0802. Dr. Hae-Ree Sung, M.D., is US-educated, speaks English, and has had the very highest recommendations from previous Fulbright women who have used her clinic.
Pharmacies - There are pharmacies everywhere, and you will soon learn the appearance of the simple Korean syllable "yak" which means "medicine." Most common medications are available at affordable prices, including cough and cold remedies and first aid supplies (though aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) tend to be expensive – you might bring a bottle of the pain reliever you use most often.) Prescription drugs, as in the U.S., require a doctor’s prescription, but most pharmaceuticals are widely available. Mosquitoes are annoying from summer through October; you might bring a small bottle of Cutter’s and some anti-itch or mosquito bite relief medication.
Emergencies - If reasonable preventive measures are taken, your stay in Korea should be uneventful from the viewpoint of health. The unexpected can, nevertheless, occur. The most important thing in the event of a true medical emergency is getting to a doctor quickly; this may be at a private clinic in your neighborhood.
If the "emergency" is less urgent, you should seek assistance at the outpatient clinic of any major Korean hospital. The facility with the longest experience in the treatment of the foreign community is the International Health Care Center of Severance Hospital, which is attached to the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul and directed by Dr. John Linton. Appointments are available daily, from 9:00 to 12:00 in the morning and from 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon, weekdays and Saturday morning. The phone number is [phone]. The staff can refer patients to Korean specialists throughout the hospital who speak English. In case of an after-hours emergency, you can reach Dr. Linton through his pager at 012-263-6556.
Yonsei Severance is a tertiary-level hospital, which means that is primarily takes referral patients from primary and secondary care hospitals. While Severance is the best hospital in Korea, in case of emergencies that are not life-threatening, you may want to consider a secondary care hospital. These hospitals may not have English speaking staff, but you will probably receive treatment faster than at the Yonsei emergency room.
Dongshin Hospital: 02-396-9161. This hospital can treat all problems, but specializes in Internal Medicine. It is close to the Seodaemun District Office, near the north gate of Yonsei University
Seran Myeongwon: 02-737-0181. Located near Dongnimun (Independence Gate)
Red Cross Hospital (적십자병원): 02-2002-8000. Located in Pyeong-dong
Shincon Yonsei Hospital: 02-337-7582. This is a small branch hospital, but can treat all problems. It specializes in plastic surgery and orthopedic cases. Located near Sinchon Grand Mart
Wherever you go, payment for medical service in Korea is always required at time of service. Major hospitals and clinics (but perhaps not all pharmacies) accept credit card payment. You will need to plan to pay for all medical care at the time of service and seek reimbursement from the State Department health insurance later. In the event of major medical expenses, of course, you should be in regular contact with the KAEC offices anyway.