Edutainer: Yeon-hwa
📌 Heads up before you read
Tried resting and all the home remedies, but your cold just won’t go away?
Sounds like it’s time for some medicine!
🔎 Table of Contents
Part 1: Korean-Style Cold Self-Care Tips
Part 2: How to Buy Cold Medicine Like a Pro
Part 3: Visiting the Doctor
Let me tell you how to buy medicine in Korea.
I remember traveling to the U.S. and China a while back, and when I caught a nasty cold, I was surprised by how different buying medicine was compared to Korea—it was definitely a bit confusing! So today, let's go over how to buy cold medicine at a convenience store in Korea.
💊🏥 3 Ways to Buy Cold Medicine in Korea
In Korea, cold medicine is divided into two main types:
(1) Medicine that requires a prescription from a doctor, which you can only get at a pharmacy.
(2) Medicine that doesn’t require a prescription, which is further split into two types:
① Medicine you can buy at a pharmacy without a prescription
② Medicine you can buy at a convenience store without a prescription
To break it down:
ⓐ Medicine that requires a doctor’s prescription and can only be bought at a pharmacy
ⓑ Medicine available at a pharmacy without a prescription
ⓒ Medicine available at a convenience store without a prescription
Today, let’s focus on how to buy medicine at a convenience store!
🏪💊 Buying Medicine at a Korean Convenience Store
Of course, if there’s a pharmacy nearby, you can get medicine there. But what if it’s closed, or you need something urgently? Think of situations like a sudden fever or worsening cold symptoms.
Recognizing that many convenience stores in Korea are open 24/7, the Korean government created a system to ensure that essential medicines, called 상비약[sang-bi-yak], are available when pharmacies are closed or in urgent situations.
This policy allows convenience stores that operate around the clock and have completed a training course from the Korean Pharmaceutical Association to sell basic over-the-counter medicines.
This policy allows convenience stores that meet two specific requirements—operating 24 hours and having completed the Education for Sellers of Safe and Readily Available Drugs provided by the Korean Pharmaceutical Association—to sell 상비약[sang-bi-yak].
상비[sang-bi] means 🌝🌚 always ready for use , and 약[yak] means 💊 medicine, so [sang-bi-yak] translates to 🚨 emergency standby medicine—medicine you can always find in case of need.
While not all convenience stores are open 24/7, most are, so even outside of pharmacy hours, you can easily find these essential medicines at convenience stores.
Now, let’s take a look at the [sang-bi-yak] available at my local GS25.
The location of [sang-bi-yak] in convenience stores can vary. It’s usually near the checkout counter, but if you don’t see it there, you can ask a store employee, "상비약 어디 있어요[sang-bi-yak eo-di i-sseo-yo]?" (meaning "Where's the emergency medicine?"). At the convenience store I visited, the [sang-bi-yak] was displayed on the lower left side of the counter.
In convenience stores, [sang-bi-yak] is generally divided into four main categories, covering 13 types of medicines:
Fever and pain relief (for adults & children)
Cold medicine
Pain relief patches
Digestive aids
Let me walk you through what’s available!🚗
ⓐ 판콜에이A (PANCOLD A): Liquid cold medicine / Drinkable liquid
ⓑ 타이레놀 (Tylenol): Fever and pain reliever / Tablet
ⓒ 판피린 (PANPYRIN): Cold medicine in pill form / Tablet
ⓓ 어린이 부루펜 (Brufen Syrup for Children): Cold medicine for kids / Drinkable liquid
They usually also sell Tylenol for children as a fever and pain reliever, but unfortunately, the store I visited was out of stock on that item 😭
ⓐ 훼스탈 플러스 (Festal Plus): General digestive aid / Tablet
ⓑ 훼스탈 골드 (Festal Gold): Enhanced digestive aid (double strength gas relief) / Tablet
ⓒ 베아제 녹색 (Beazae Green): Digestive aid (for general overeating) / Tablet
ⓓ 닥터 베아제 주황색 (Dr. Beazae Orange): Digestive aid (for overeating protein- or fat-rich foods) / Tablet
There are pain relief patches available that you can apply to your body for muscle pain, joint pain, rheumatism, back pain, or shoulder stiffness.
In addition to emergency medicine, there are also non-prescription medical supplies available at convenience stores for urgent situations.
ⓐ 마데카솔 (Madecassol): An ointment that promotes new skin growth on wounds, useful for cuts or scrapes
ⓑ 안티푸라민 (Antiphlamine): An ointment that provides pain relief and reduces inflammation
ⓒ 저자극성 일회용 알콜솜: Alcohol cleaning swabs
ⓓ 과산화수소수: Hydrogen peroxide solution for disinfecting wound areas
Various sizes and types of bandages and dressings, including waterproof options
Pregnancy test kits from various brands
Creams or sprays for applying to bug or mosquito bites, and insect repellent sprays
The types and stock of [sang-bi-yak] can vary by convenience store, so if they don’t have what you’re looking for, you can always check another nearby store. 😁 Also, keep in mind that each store may display [sang-bi-yak] differently.
🎁 Things to Know When Buying [sang-bi-yak] at a Convenience Store
There is a purchase limit of one item per person for each [sang-bi-yak].
Children under 12 are not allowed to purchase [sang-bi-yak].
Since [sang-bi-yak] are over-the-counter medicines intended for mild symptoms and urgent use, it’s important to check the dosage and instructions before use.
Don’t know Korean?
No worries! ➡ Just use the Google Translate app!
1️⃣ Open the Google Translate app.
2️⃣ Scan the Korean text on the package or instructions.
3️⃣ Get it instantly translated into your language. Done!
Next time, I’ll talk about how to buy medicine at a pharmacy in Korea. Until then, take care and stay cold-free! 😁
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