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  • Free Child Vaccines in Korea: 19 Vaccines Until Age 12

    Free Child Vaccines in Korea: 19 Vaccines Until Age 12

    In Korea, children aged 12 and under get 19 national vaccines free of charge. For 2026, this means every child born on or after 1 January 2013. Foreign children get them the same way as Korean children, with an Alien Registration Card or a temporary number.

    The free shots are given at public health centers (보건소) and designated clinics (위탁의료기관). This guide shows the 2026 schedule, which vaccines you pay for, and what to bring. It also covers what to do if your child is behind schedule.

    What this guide covers
    01 Who gets free vaccines
    02 When each vaccine is given
    03 What you still pay for
    04 How to get the shots, step by step
    05 What to do if your child is behind schedule
    06 How to add vaccines given abroad
    07 What to say at the clinic
    08 Frequently asked questions

    Who gets free vaccines

    Rules verified October 2026 · Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, Article 24 · KDCA 2026 national vaccination guidelines

    Article 24 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act (감염병예방법) lists the diseases for required vaccination (필수예방접종). Each city, county or district must give these vaccines through its public health center. It can also ask clinics to give them.

    The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) runs the program. Its vaccination site (예방접종도우미) sets the 2026 group as children aged 12 and under, born on or after 1 January 2013. The program pays the full cost, including the vaccine and the fee for giving it.

    Foreign children, from the 2026 KDCA guidelines
    ✓ Same as Korean children. Foreign children get the shots at public health centers or designated clinics with an Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) or a temporary number (임시관리번호).
    ✓ Short-term visitors are not covered. People who come to Korea for a short stay of less than 3 months are not part of the program.

    When each vaccine is given

    Schedule verified October 2026 · KDCA standard vaccination schedule for children (2026) · 예방접종도우미 national vaccination program page

    KDCA publishes a standard schedule (표준 예방접종 일정표) every year. The table below follows the 2026 version. The 19 vaccines include combined vaccines (혼합백신) that cover several diseases in one shot, so the table groups them by disease.

    The 2026 standard schedule for children
    KDCA standard vaccination schedule (2026) · Months and years are the child’s age
    Vaccine When
    Tuberculosis, BCG (결핵) 1 dose within 4 weeks of birth
    Hepatitis B (B형간염) At birth, 1 month and 6 months
    Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (디프테리아·파상풍·백일해) 2, 4 and 6 months. Then 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years. Then Tdap or Td at 11 to 12 years
    Polio (폴리오) 2 and 4 months. Then 6 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years
    Hib (b형헤모필루스인플루엔자) 2, 4 and 6 months. Then 12 to 15 months
    Pneumococcal (폐렴구균) 2, 4 and 6 months. Then 12 to 15 months
    Rotavirus (로타바이러스) 2 and 4 months, or 2, 4 and 6 months, depending on the vaccine
    Measles, mumps and rubella, MMR (홍역·유행성이하선염·풍진) 12 to 15 months. Then 4 to 6 years
    Chickenpox (수두) 12 to 15 months
    Hepatitis A (A형간염) Doses 1 and 2 between 12 and 35 months
    Japanese encephalitis, inactivated or killed virus (일본뇌염 불활성화 백신) Doses 1 and 2 at 12 to 23 months. Then 24 to 35 months, 6 years and 12 years
    Japanese encephalitis, live weakened virus (일본뇌염 약독화 생백신) 12 to 23 months. Then 24 to 35 months
    HPV (사람유두종바이러스) Doses 1 and 2 at 11 to 12 years. Free from age 12, see below
    Flu (인플루엔자) Every year from 6 months

    Some vaccines have their own age limits for free shots. The program page lists these limits.

    Vaccines with a different age limit
    ✓ BCG. Free up to 59 months of age. From 3 months, only if a TB skin test (TST) is negative.
    ✓ Hib and pneumococcal. Free up to 59 months of age. The program page adds that high-risk children are covered after 59 months too. Ask the doctor if this applies to your child.
    ✓ Rotavirus. Free up to 8 months and 0 days of age. The first dose is free only up to 14 weeks and 6 days of age.
    ✓ HPV. Free for girls aged 12 to 17 (born 2008 to 2014). Since 6 May 2026, also free for 12-year-old boys (born in 2014).
    ✓ Flu. The group and dates change each season.

    For this season’s flu shot, see the flu vaccine guide. For the HPV shot, KDCA says a parent should go with the child. If you cannot go, your child should bring a consent form (예방접종 시행 동의서) and a screening form that you completed. The forms are on the vaccination site under 예방접종관리, then 관련자료 다운로드.

    What you still pay for

    Costs verified October 2026 · 예방접종도우미 national vaccination program page

    The program pays only for the listed vaccines given at a public health center or designated clinic. KDCA names two cases where you pay. You also pay after a vaccine’s free age limit.

    When you pay the full cost
    A clinic that is not designated. The program does not pay for shots there.
    A product outside the program. You pay the full cost for three products. They are the BCG given on the skin (경피용), Imojev (이모젭) for Japanese encephalitis, and the 9-type HPV vaccine (HPV 9가).
    Past the age limit. A vaccine given after its free age limit in the box above is not free.

    Ask which vaccine the clinic will use before the shot. The free BCG is the type injected into the skin (피내용). The free HPV vaccine is the 4-type vaccine (4가).

    How to get the shots, step by step

    Steps verified October 2026 · 예방접종도우미 program page, designated clinics and steps · KDCA 2026 national vaccination guidelines

    Step 1 — Find a designated clinic

    Search on the vaccination site (예방접종도우미, nip.kdca.go.kr): 예방접종관리, then 위탁의료기관 찾기. You can go to any designated clinic in Korea, not only one near your address.

    Step 2 — Check that the clinic has the vaccine

    KDCA says each clinic may stock different vaccines. Call the clinic or check the vaccination site before you go.

    Step 3 — Bring ID and the vaccination booklet

    Bring your ID and your child’s vaccination booklet (예방접종수첩). KDCA gives a parent’s resident registration card or health insurance card as examples of ID. For foreign children, the guidelines name the Alien Registration Card.

    The guidelines also ask the parent to bring a document that shows the relationship to the child. One example is a family relation certificate (가족관계증명서). If you do not have this Korean certificate, ask the clinic which document to bring.

    If your child has no registration number yet
    Sometimes a child’s resident or alien registration number cannot be confirmed. In that case, the guidelines say to get a temporary number (임시관리번호) at a public health center first. Then go back to the clinic. Call the public health center first to ask what to bring.

    Step 4 — Complete the screening form

    At the clinic, complete the vaccination screening form (예방접종 예진표). To get text alerts for the next shot, select 동의함 for text messages on the form.

    Step 5 — See the doctor, then get the shot

    The doctor checks your child before the shot. After the shot, the clinic explains what to watch for and when the next shot is due.

    What to do if your child is behind schedule

    Rules verified October 2026 · KDCA standard vaccination schedule page · 예방접종도우미 national vaccination program page

    KDCA says a longer gap between doses does not mean starting again from the first dose. Your child also does not need extra doses because of the gap.

    Starting a vaccine late is a different case. Then the number of doses can be different for some vaccines. These include DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough), polio, Hib, pneumococcal and inactivated Japanese encephalitis. KDCA asks parents to plan the missed doses with the doctor. KDCA also publishes a separate schedule for children who missed vaccines (미접종 소아 예방접종 일정표).

    The age limits above still apply. For example, a rotavirus dose is no longer free after 8 months and 0 days.

    How to add vaccines given abroad

    Rules verified October 2026 · KDCA 2026 national vaccination guidelines · Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, Article 31

    Vaccines your child got in another country are not in the Korean system yet. A public health center can add them. The guidelines say it must do this for anyone, whatever their address.

    Bring a vaccination certificate or record from a vaccination center or health authority in that country. It must have an official stamp or signature. If staff are not sure the document is real, or it needs translation, they may ask for an officially certified (notarized) copy or translation.

    The guidelines explain why this matters. Records are checked when a child enters a daycare center, or an elementary or middle school. Article 31 of the Act lets local governments ask these schools, kindergartens and daycare centers to check them.

    Related guide
    Vaccination Certificate in Korea: School Entry and English
    Which vaccines schools check, and how to get the certificate.

    The infant checkup also looks at vaccinations. Its 8th round, at 66 to 71 months, checks your child’s record, as the infant checkup guide explains.

    What to say at the clinic

    Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud.

    국가예방접종 받으러 왔어요.
    Guk-ga-ye-bang-jeop-jong ba-deu-reo wa-sseo-yo.
    “My child is here for a national vaccination.”
    Say this first at reception.
    여기서 이 백신 맞을 수 있나요?
    Yeo-gi-seo i baek-sin ma-jeul su in-na-yo?
    “Can my child get this vaccine here?”
    Use this at reception and point to the vaccine name.
    예방접종수첩 가져왔어요.
    Ye-bang-jeop-jong-su-cheop ga-jyeo-wa-sseo-yo.
    “I brought the vaccination booklet.”
    Say this as you give the booklet.
    임시관리번호를 받고 싶어요.
    Im-si-gwal-li-beon-ho-reul bat-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like a temporary number.”
    Use this at the public health center.
    해외 접종 기록을 등록하고 싶어요.
    Hae-oe jeop-jong gi-ro-geul deung-no-ka-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like to register vaccinations from abroad.”
    Use this at the public health center. Show the certificate.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the immunization schedule for infants in Korea?
    KDCA publishes a standard schedule each year. In 2026, it starts with hepatitis B at birth and BCG within 4 weeks. Many vaccines start at 2 months, and others start at 12 months. Later doses continue up to age 12.
    Are child vaccines free for foreigners in Korea?
    Yes, for children born on or after 1 January 2013. Foreign children get them like Korean children, with an Alien Registration Card or a temporary number. Short-term visitors staying less than 3 months are not covered.
    Can my child get free vaccines at any hospital?
    No. Only public health centers and designated clinics give them free. At other clinics, you pay the full cost.
    Does my child need to restart if a vaccine was late?
    No. KDCA says a longer gap does not mean starting again. Ask the doctor about a plan for missed doses, because some late vaccines need a different number of doses.
    Free checkups and vaccines
    National Health Screening in Korea: Free Checkup With NHIS
    Who is on this year’s list, what the tests are, and the 31 December deadline.
    Cancer Screening in Korea: What Is Free and Who Pays 10%
    Six cancers, the age for each, who counts as high risk, and your share of the cost.
    Flu Vaccine in Korea: Who Gets It Free This Season
    Who gets the flu shot free this season, the start dates, and what to bring.

    Official sources

    Every rule and figure here comes from the pages below. Rules can change each year. Open the page before you use this information.

    · Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act (감염병의 예방 및 관리에 관한 법률) · Article 24, required vaccination · Article 31, vaccination checks
    · Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청) · 2026 national vaccination guidelines for clinics (PDF)
    Information verified as of October 2026. The schedule, age limits and covered vaccines can change each year. Confirm the details with your public health center or the KDCA call center at 1339 before you go.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Korean Picture Diary Homework: A Korean Mom’s Guide

    Korean Picture Diary Homework: A Korean Mom’s Guide

    In the first semester of first grade, Korean schools are asked to go easy on writing. A national Hangul policy asks them to avoid heavy notice-book writing and diary writing in that first semester. After that, both become part of school life.

    I am a Korean mother of two sons in elementary school. This guide explains the notice book (알림장) and the picture diary (그림일기), what the national curriculum says about them, and how I help with both at home.

    What this guide covers
    01 When writing homework starts
    02 The notice book (알림장)
    03 What a Korean picture diary looks like
    04 Helping your child find something to write
    05 Choosing diary pages by grade
    06 Frequently asked questions

    When writing homework starts

    Checked October 2026 · Ministry of Education Hangul policy · National Education Commission Notice No. 2024-3

    The first-semester rule comes from the Ministry of Education’s 2019 Hangul policy. It asks schools to avoid heavy dictation, notice-book writing and diary writing in the first semester of first grade.

    The national curriculum for grades 1 and 2 then asks children to write about their own lives. One standard says children write freely about things that happened to them, then read their writing together and share their thoughts ([2국03-04]). Another says children show everyday experiences and thoughts in words and pictures ([2국06-02]). Its explanation names one activity directly: writing a picture diary.

    The curriculum is gentle about length. It tells teachers to let children write one or two sentences freely, and to focus on enjoying writing rather than on spelling and spacing. It also says children who are new to written Korean can show an experience in words and pictures together. That is what a picture diary page is for.

    The notice book (알림장)

    An allimjang (알림장) is a small notebook for the teacher’s notes about the next day: homework, things to bring, and messages for parents. Children write it at school and bring it home.

    In both my sons’ classes, the teacher also posts the same notes on a class app. So why write them by hand? In my experience, writing the notes down is what helps children remember what they need.

    My children pack their own school bags from the notice book. My older son started doing this in third grade, and my younger son in first grade.

    My older son started late because he was my first child, and I did not know better. Once both boys were in school, packing two bags for them became hard work, so I asked them to try it themselves. Looking back, first grade is the right time to start, a little at a time. I was a first-time mom, too.

    Even so, I always check. Packing is a chore, so children sometimes say they did it when they did not. Mine have been caught doing this more than once. Sunday evening is the one time I never skip a bag check.

    If your child’s class uses an app, a translation app can help you read the notes yourself and check the bag against them. Still, let your child write the notice book and pack the bag first. The writing is what builds the habit.

    What a Korean picture diary looks like

    A picture diary (그림일기, geurimilgi) page has a box for a drawing at the top and a writing grid below it, with one Korean syllable in each square. Most pages also have a line for the date and the weather.

    My younger son had diary homework twice a week over the winter break of first grade. No teacher could check it. Right after the break, he moved up to a new second-grade class.

    So I checked it myself. I asked for at least five lines and fixed his spelling. He could read almost all Hangul by then, so this was not hard for him. If he wrote a word the way it sounds, I simply corrected it.

    Five lines was my rule, not the school’s. In my experience, teachers did not seem to mind how many lines children wrote, and the curriculum asks for only one or two sentences in class. If your child is just starting, two short sentences and a drawing make a normal first diary.

    Helping your child find something to write

    The hard part is not spelling. Children’s days look the same to them. They remember chatting and joking with friends, but not much about what they did themselves. Ask them to write a diary, and you get this: 나는 학교에 갔다. 친구들이랑 재미있게 놀았다. (I went to school. I had fun with my friends.) The next day says the same thing.

    So I wait for a day that stands out. Say my child runs a race in PE, a classmate comes first, and he comes a close second. If he comes home and tells me all about it, that is what I tell him to write. Days like that do not come every day, and that is how children learn what belongs in a diary.

    When a diary still comes out too short, I ask questions, one at a time, and each answer becomes a sentence.

    Here is how it goes after a family dinner. What was the best part? “The meat.” Who cooked it? “Dad grilled it.” How much did you eat? “Two bowls of rice.” Put together, a one-word diary becomes three sentences: 저녁에 고기를 먹었다. 아빠가 구워 주셨다. 밥을 두 그릇이나 먹었다.

    This works even if your Korean is limited. You can ask the questions in any language. Your child writes the answers in Korean, and you check that each answer became its own sentence.

    This matches the curriculum’s own advice: help children write about a memorable experience as if they were telling it to a friend.

    Choosing diary pages by grade

    There is no fixed page for each grade. Most first and second graders start with a one-page picture diary. Once your child can read and write almost all Hangul, change the page little by little. Watch your child write, and decide from that.

    In first and second grade, children can write only a few words, so I have them focus on the drawing and keep the writing short. From third grade, children can write real sentences, so a two-page diary with a drawing and more writing works well. A child who does not need squares can use lined pages, and a child who loves drawing can pair a drawing page with lined pages. Let your child’s personality decide.

    If you are not sure where to start
    ✓ Grade 1 · one-page picture diary, 8 squares across
    ✓ Grade 2 · one-page picture diary, 10 squares across
    ✓ Grade 3 · two-page picture diary, or lined pages for a child who does not like drawing

    I made my diary pages in the layouts my children use at school, as printable files rather than a bound book. Like a dictation notebook, a bought diary is rarely used to the last page. Printing one page at a time lets your child change layouts as they grow.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a Korean picture diary (그림일기)?
    A diary page with a drawing box at the top and a writing grid below. Korea’s national curriculum names writing a picture diary as an activity for grades 1 and 2.
    Do first graders in Korea write a diary?
    Not much in the first semester. A 2019 Ministry of Education policy asks schools to avoid heavy diary writing then. Later, it depends on the teacher.
    What is an allimjang?
    A small notebook where children write the teacher’s notes for the next day, such as homework and things to bring.
    Which picture diary page should my child use?
    There is no fixed rule. As a start, try a one-page diary with 8 squares across in grade 1, 10 squares in grade 2, and a two-page or lined diary from grade 3. Then adjust to your child.
    How long should a Korean school diary be?
    It depends on the teacher. For grades 1 and 2, the curriculum suggests one or two sentences in class, with more interest in enjoying writing than in perfect spelling.
    Hangul at school
    Does Your Child Need to Read Korean Before First Grade?
    What preschools and first grade are told to teach, and how a Korean parent prepared two boys for school.
    Korean Spelling Mistakes: Why Even Korean Kids Get It Wrong
    Why Korean is not spelled the way it sounds, and the words Korean children still mix up in fourth grade.
    Korean Dictation Test (Badasseugi): A Guide for Parents
    How the weekly test works, what the practice list is, and how to help at home even if you can’t read Korean.
    Korean Spelling Practice at Home: A Korean Mom’s Guide
    How Korean children really learn spelling, a four-stage map for foreign parents, and a simple routine for home.

    Official sources

    The Hangul policy and the curriculum standards come from the official pages below.

    · Ministry of Education (교육부) · Hangul education policy announcement, October 2019
    · National Education Commission (국가교육위원회) · elementary school curriculum, Korean, Notice No. 2024-3 · National Curriculum Information Center
    Information verified as of October 2026. Homework rules differ between schools and teachers. Ask your child’s teacher what they expect for the notice book and the diary.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Infant Health Checkups in Korea: 8 Free Visits Before Age 6

    Infant Health Checkups in Korea: 8 Free Visits Before Age 6

    Some parents think they can take their child for the free checkup any time before age 6. In fact, each of the 8 infant checkups has its own age window, the period when it can be done. The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단) says a checkup can only be done within that window.

    The checkup is free for children under 6 who are enrolled in National Health Insurance (국민건강보험), including foreign children. This guide shows each window, what the doctor checks, and how to book. It also covers how to use the results for daycare and school.

    What this guide covers
    01 Who can get the infant checkup
    02 When the 8 checkups and 4 dental checkups happen
    03 How much it costs
    04 How to get the checkup, step by step
    05 What to do if the development test shows a concern
    06 How to use the results for daycare and school
    07 Where to get help in your language
    08 What to say at the clinic
    09 Frequently asked questions

    Who can get the infant checkup

    Rules verified October 2026 · National Health Insurance Act, Articles 52 and 109 · Immigration Act, Articles 23 and 31

    Article 52 of the National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법) lists the infant checkup (영유아건강검진). It covers insured people and dependents under the age of 6. NHIS runs it from 14 days after birth to 71 months.

    Foreign children are covered in the same way once they are enrolled. Under Article 109, a registered foreign worker at a covered workplace becomes an employee member (직장가입자). The worker’s family can apply to become dependents (피부양자). For the worker’s spouse and children under 19, the rule on how long they have lived in Korea does not apply.

    Other registered foreign residents who meet the residence rules become local members (지역가입자). In every case, your child needs to be on NHIS before the checkup.

    If your baby was born in Korea
    A foreign baby born in Korea must get a status of stay (체류자격) within 90 days of birth. This is Article 23 of the Immigration Act (출입국관리법). If the baby will stay longer than 90 days, the baby must also do foreigner registration (외국인등록) at the same time, under Article 31. After that, you can apply to add the baby to NHIS. The first checkup window ends at 35 days, so ask NHIS at 1577-1000 how this works for your baby.

    When the 8 checkups and 4 dental checkups happen

    Schedule verified October 2026 · Health Checkup Standards (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice 2026-6), Article 8 and Annex 3 · NHIS infant checkup page

    The Health Checkup Standards (건강검진 실시기준), a Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) notice, set the age window for each round. The doctor uses a questionnaire, an exam and age-based tests.

    The 8 health checkups
    NHIS infant checkup page · Every round also has a questionnaire, an exam and health education
    Round Age window Main checks
    1st (1차) 14 to 35 days Height, weight and head size. Questions on hearing and vision
    2nd (2차) 4 to 6 months Height, weight and head size. Questions on hearing and vision
    3rd (3차) 9 to 12 months Body measurements. Development screening starts
    4th (4차) 18 to 24 months Body measurements. Development screening
    5th (5차) 30 to 36 months Body measurements and BMI. Development screening. School readiness education
    6th (6차) 42 to 48 months Body measurements and BMI. Eye test. Whisper hearing test (귓속말검사). Development screening
    7th (7차) 54 to 60 months Body measurements and BMI. Eye test. Development screening
    8th (8차) 66 to 71 months Body measurements and BMI. Eye test. Vaccination record check. Development screening. School readiness education
    The 4 dental checkups (구강검진)
    NHIS infant checkup page · Dental questionnaire, mouth exam and dental health education
    Round Age window
    1st dental 18 to 29 months
    2nd dental 30 to 41 months
    3rd dental 42 to 53 months
    4th dental 54 to 65 months

    A dentist does the dental checkup. Each dental window is longer than the health checkup window around it, so it can be a separate visit to a dental clinic (치과).

    To see your child’s dates, use the date checker on the NHIS website. Enter the date of birth, and it shows the start and end date of each round. NHIS says this is only a guide. For exact dates, check 검진대상 조회 on the website or call 1577-1000.

    The checkup does not include blood or urine tests. The 2026 NHIS guide says there is not enough medical evidence for them. It says advice to parents on preventing accidents is needed more.

    How much it costs

    Costs verified October 2026 · Health Checkup Standards, Articles 12 and 14 · NHIS 2026 infant checkup guide

    Under Article 12 of the Health Checkup Standards, NHIS pays the full cost. The 2026 NHIS guide says you pay nothing when the checkup is done within its window.

    The window is strict
    NHIS says the checkup can only be done within its window. Each round can be done once. If your child gets more checkups than this, NHIS can ask you to pay that cost back.

    Before you book, check that the date falls within your child’s window for that round.

    How to get the checkup, step by step

    Steps verified October 2026 · Health Checkup Standards, Article 9 · NHIS infant checkup pages · NHIS 2026 infant checkup guide

    Step 1 — Find the checkup form

    NHIS sends the infant checkup form (영유아 건강검진표) as an electronic document or by mail. If you did not get it or lost it, ask for a new one at 1577-1000. You can also log in and print a checkup eligibility certificate (검진대상 확인서). Go to 자녀 건강, then 영유아 건강검진, then 영유아 검진대상 조회.

    Step 2 — Find a clinic and book

    Use the NHIS website: 건강모아, then 기관찾기, then 병(의)원/검진기관 찾기. The NHIS app (건강보험25시) has the same finder under 기관찾기. NHIS warns that bookings can close early, so book ahead.

    Step 3 — Complete the questionnaire online

    You can complete the questionnaire (문진표) online from the 1st checkup. The development test form (발달선별검사지, K-DST) starts at the 3rd checkup. Log in to the NHIS website with a certificate (인증서) to use them.

    If you are not on your child’s insurance card
    The online forms work only when the parent is listed with the child on the same health insurance card. If not, apply for a guardian check (영유아 보호자 관계 확인 신청). You can use the forms after your NHIS branch approves your request. If online is hard, complete a paper form at the clinic.

    After you finish the development test form, tell the clinic your registration number (등록번호). It is the birthday of the person whose certificate you used, as month then day. For example, 25 March is 0325.

    Step 4 — Do the whisper test at home (6th checkup)

    The 6th checkup includes a whisper test (귓속말검사) that you do at home first. The NHIS guide has picture cards. Sit about 60 cm from one ear while your child covers the other ear. Whisper a picture’s name and check if your child points to it. Write the result in the questionnaire.

    Step 5 — Visit the clinic

    Go within the window on your booked day. The Health Checkup Standards ask you to bring an ID, so ask the clinic which ID to bring for your child. The clinic checks your child’s round and window with NHIS before the checkup.

    Step 6 — Get the results

    The clinic gives you the result notice (결과통보서) directly. You can also see it on the NHIS website or app, usually about one month after the checkup.

    What to do if the development test shows a concern

    Support verified October 2026 · NHIS development test page · NHIS 2026 infant checkup guide

    The result may say “further assessment recommended” (심화평가 권고). In that case, the national and local governments help pay for a detailed development test.

    Support for a detailed development test
    ✓ How much. Up to 200,000 KRW for insured people. Up to 400,000 KRW for basic livelihood recipients (기초생활수급자) and near-poverty households (차상위계층).
    ✓ When. Take the test within one year of the checkup. Apply by the end of June of the year after the test.
    ✓ Where to ask. The public health center (보건소) for your address.

    There are two ways to get the support. At a designated test center, first get a test request form (검사의뢰서) from the public health center. Bring it and the result notice to the center, and the center claims the support. At another clinic, bring the result notice and take the test. Then claim the support at the public health center yourself.

    For your own claim, NHIS lists four documents. They are the checkup result notice, the detailed test result written by a specialist, the receipt, and a copy of your bank account book (통장).

    The result notice also helps if your child needs more care. The NHIS guide says you can use it as a referral letter (요양급여의뢰서) at a large advanced general hospital (상급종합병원).

    How to use the results for daycare and school

    Rules verified October 2026 · Infant Care Act, Article 31 · Enforcement Rule, Article 33 · NHIS 2026 infant checkup guide

    Under Article 31 of the Infant Care Act (영유아보육법), a daycare center (어린이집) must give children regular health checks. The enforcement rule says at least once a year. The center can use the NHIS checkup instead, and parents submit the result notice. The NHIS guide says you can also submit it to a kindergarten (유치원).

    Two checkups also prepare for school: the 5th (30 to 36 months) and the 8th (66 to 71 months). The NHIS guide says the doctor gives an overall review of intellectual, emotional and social development. Parents also get advice on getting ready for school.

    Related guide
    Does Your Child Need to Read Korean Before First Grade?
    What Korean preschools teach before school, and where first grade Korean starts.

    The 8th checkup also checks your child’s vaccination record. The NHIS guide asks parents to take care of vaccinations along with the checkups.

    Where to get help in your language

    NHIS has a two-page multilingual guide (다국어 영유아 건강검진 안내). It is in Korean and 13 other languages, including English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Russian. It shows the schedule and the three main steps.

    If you need interpretation or translation, NHIS suggests the Danuri Helpline (다누리콜센터) at 1577-1366. For questions about the checkup, call NHIS at 1577-1000, or 033-811-2000 for English.

    What to say at the clinic

    Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud.

    영유아 건강검진 예약하고 싶어요.
    Yeong-yu-a geon-gang-geom-jin ye-ya-ka-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like to book an infant checkup.”
    Use this when you call the clinic.
    몇 차 검진인지 확인해 주세요.
    Myeot-cha geom-ji-nin-ji hwa-gin-hae ju-se-yo.
    “Please check which round of checkup this is.”
    Use this if you are not sure of the round.
    발달선별검사지 작성했어요.
    Bal-dal-seon-byeol-geom-sa-ji jak-seong-hae-sseo-yo.
    “I have completed the development test form.”
    Say this at reception, then give the registration number.
    검진결과통보서는 언제 받을 수 있나요?
    Geom-jin-gyeol-gwa-tong-bo-seo-neun eon-je ba-deul su in-na-yo?
    “When can I get the result notice?”
    Ask this if the clinic does not give it to you on the day.
    통역이 필요해요.
    Tong-yeo-gi pi-ryo-hae-yo.
    “I need an interpreter.”
    Use this when you book, then call 1577-1366.

    Frequently asked questions

    Where can I get a free medical checkup in Korea?
    For children under 6, it is the infant checkup at a designated clinic. Find one with the NHIS clinic finder. Adults on that year’s list can get the national general health checkup.
    Is the infant checkup free for foreign children?
    Yes, if the child is enrolled in National Health Insurance. NHIS pays the full cost when the checkup is done within its window.
    Can my child take a missed checkup later?
    No. NHIS says each checkup can only be done within its window. The next round has its own window.
    What happens if a foreigner has a baby in Korea?
    The baby must get a status of stay within 90 days of birth, under Article 23 of the Immigration Act. A baby staying longer than 90 days also does foreigner registration at that time. For the infant checkup, the baby needs to be on NHIS, and the first window ends at 35 days.
    Free checkups and vaccines
    National Health Screening in Korea: Free Checkup With NHIS
    Who is on this year’s list, what the tests are, and the 31 December deadline.
    Cancer Screening in Korea: What Is Free and Who Pays 10%
    Six cancers, the age for each, who counts as high risk, and your share of the cost.
    Flu Vaccine in Korea: Who Gets It Free This Season
    Who gets the flu shot free this season, the start dates, and what to bring.

    Official sources

    Every rule and figure here comes from the pages below. Rules can change each year. Open the page before you use this information.

    · National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법) · Article 52, health checkups · Article 109, foreign residents
    · Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 건강검진 실시기준, Health Checkup Standards
    · Infant Care Act (영유아보육법) · Article 31, health care · Enforcement Rule, Article 33
    · National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) · 영유아 건강검진 안내 · 검진일자 조회, date checker · 발달선별검사지 안내
    · NHIS guides (PDF) · 2026 infant checkup guide · multilingual guide
    Information verified as of October 2026. Age windows, tests and support amounts can change. Confirm the details with NHIS at 1577-1000, or 033-811-2000 for English, before you go.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Clinics Open at Night or on Sunday in Korea: How to Find One

    Clinics Open at Night or on Sunday in Korea: How to Find One

    Where to go at night or on a Sunday in Korea depends on two things: the time, and who is sick. Anyone can use the national emergency portal to find clinics that are open right now. For a child, there are also clinics designated to see children at night and on holidays. The portal says to call 119 for advice when you cannot tell how serious it is.

    The search tools below have Korean-language screens. This guide gives the Korean label for each button you need to press. It also covers pharmacies, the Seollal and Chuseok holidays, and a change in who can designate children’s night clinics from December 2026.

    What this guide covers
    01 Where to go depends on the time and who is sick
    02 How to find a clinic open right now
    03 How to find a clinic open on a certain day or hour
    04 How Moonlight Children’s Hospitals work
    05 How to find a pharmacy at night or on a holiday
    06 What to do during Seollal and Chuseok
    07 When to call 119 for advice
    08 What to say at the counter
    09 Frequently asked questions

    Where to go depends on the time and who is sick

    The table sends you to the right screen or phone number for each situation. The sections below explain each one.

    Where to look, by situation
    National Emergency Medical Center, E-Gen portal · Emergency Medical Service Act, Article 34-2
    Situation Where to look Korean label
    You need a clinic now E-Gen hospital search, map tab 병원 찾기 · 지도
    You are planning for a Sunday, a holiday or a late hour E-Gen hospital search, general tab 병원 찾기 · 일반
    A child is sick at night or on a holiday The Moonlight Children’s Hospital list 달빛어린이병원
    You only need medicine E-Gen pharmacy search, or the late-night pharmacy list 약국 찾기
    It is Seollal or Chuseok The E-Gen holiday page, 129, or your area code plus 120 명절 연휴 응급의료 이용 안내
    You cannot tell how serious it is Call 119 for advice 119

    If your case is not an emergency under the law, you pay the emergency room management fee (응급의료관리료) in full. The guide below explains when this applies.

    Related guide
    Hospital Costs in Korea: Where to Go and What You Pay
    Emergency room fees, and what each type of place costs.

    Each E-Gen search page warns that opening hours can change. Call the clinic before you go.

    How to find a clinic open right now

    Screens verified October 2026 · National Emergency Medical Center, E-Gen portal

    The National Emergency Medical Center (중앙응급의료센터) runs the emergency medical portal, E-Gen (응급의료포털). It opens without a login. Start from the main page, because the search opens from there.

    Find a clinic that is open now
    → Open the E-Gen main page.
    → Press the box 병원·약국 찾기 (find a hospital or pharmacy). The map tab, 지도, opens.
    → Press 위치 재설정 (reset location) and search for your address. You can also choose 시/도, 시/군/구 and 동 (neighborhood).
    → Choose a 반경 (radius) of 1 Km or 3 Km.
    → Under 정렬 (sort), choose 진료여부순 (by whether it is open).

    Each result shows the distance, the type of place, the phone number and the address. Check for the label 현재 진료가능, which means “open now”. Some places also show 공휴일운영, which means “open on public holidays”. The portal notes that the map tab lists only places you can visit at the moment you search.

    The health map in the first-visit guide has a similar box, 실시간 문 연 병원 (open now). You can use either one.

    How to find a clinic open on a certain day or hour

    To plan for a Sunday, a public holiday or a late evening, use the second tab, 일반 (general). It searches by day and hour instead of by the current moment.

    Search by day and hour
    → On the hospital search page, open the tab 일반.
    → Choose your area in 시도선택 (province or city) and 구군선택 (district).
    → Under 진료과목 (department), choose a department, for example 내과 (internal medicine) or 소아청소년과 (pediatrics).
    → Under 진료요일 (day), choose the day. The list has 월요일 (Monday) to 일요일 (Sunday), and 공휴일 (public holiday).
    → Under 진료시간 (hour), choose a time between 07:00 and 23:00.
    → Press 검색 (search).

    The page itself says hours can change, and asks you to call 119 or the clinic before you go. Save two or three results on your phone ahead of time, then call one of them on the day.

    How Moonlight Children’s Hospitals work

    Rules verified October 2026 · Emergency Medical Service Act, Article 34-2 · Enforcement Rule, Article 21-2 · Ministry of Health and Welfare 2025 guideline

    Article 34-2 of the Emergency Medical Service Act allows the government to designate night and holiday clinics for children (야간·휴일 소아 진료기관). The stated goals are to ease crowding in emergency rooms and to prevent gaps in care for children. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) calls these clinics Moonlight Children’s Hospitals (달빛어린이병원) in its operating guideline.

    Until 9 December 2026, the Minister of Health and Welfare or a city or provincial governor (시ㆍ도지사) can designate them. From 10 December 2026, the head of a city, county or district (시장ㆍ군수ㆍ구청장) can also designate them. An amendment to Article 34-2 adds that level of government.

    What the rules say
    ✓ Who can be designated. A clinic must meet standards set by the Minister of Health and Welfare. These standards consider its facilities, staff and equipment for treating children at night or on holidays. They also consider its record of treating children and its operating plan (Enforcement Rule, Article 21-2).
    ✓ Minimum hours. The Ministry’s 2025 guideline sets minimum hours for each day a clinic runs. On weekdays, it sets 18:00 to 23:00. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, including Seollal and Chuseok, it sets 10:00 to 18:00. Not every clinic runs every day.
    ✓ Registration hours. These are registration hours. The guideline says a clinic cannot refuse a patient who registers within them because many people are waiting.
    ✓ How many. The portal lists 156 of these clinics nationwide as of October 2026.

    Open the Moonlight Children’s Hospital page and choose your region tab. The list shows each clinic’s phone number, and its status next to the name, for example 진료종료 (closed for the day). Press 상세보기 (details) for its hours on each day of the week and on public holidays.

    How to find a pharmacy at night or on a holiday

    E-Gen also has a pharmacy search, 약국 찾기 (find a pharmacy). It works like the hospital search, with a map tab and a general tab. In the general tab, the 영업요일 (business day) box includes 공휴일 (public holiday). The pharmacy hours come from the Korean Pharmaceutical Association (대한약사회).

    At the top of the pharmacy page, you can download a list of pharmacies across Korea that stay open after 22:00. Look for 심야운영약국 목록 다운로드 (download the late-night pharmacy list). The file is in CSV format.

    Some stores that open 24 hours a day, all year, are registered to sell a short list of medicines for minor symptoms (안전상비의약품) (Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Article 44-2). For prescription medicine, you still need a pharmacist (Article 23).

    What to do during Seollal and Chuseok

    For Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok, the emergency portal has a separate page, 명절 연휴 응급의료 이용 안내 (emergency care during the holidays).

    Where the portal says to look during the holidays
    ✓ The emergency medical information app (응급의료정보제공 앱) and the E-Gen website
    ✓ The 응급똑똑 app
    ✓ 129, or your area code followed by 120
    ✓ 119, for clinics on duty during the holiday

    For a minor illness, the page lists places to visit in this order. First come clinics or hospitals on holiday duty (당직 병·의원). Next come emergency medical facilities (응급의료시설), then local emergency medical institutions (지역응급의료기관). For a child, some Moonlight Children’s Hospitals also open on holidays. Check each clinic’s days on the list.

    When to call 119 for advice

    Rules verified October 2026 · Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services, Article 10-2

    119 is not only for ambulances. The 119 emergency medical control centers (119구급상황관리센터) give guidance and advice to emergency patients. The law also lists advice for patients aged 18 and under (Article 10-2). The E-Gen holiday page gives the same message: when you cannot tell how serious it is, call 119 for advice.

    If you do not speak Korean, you can still call. The guide below explains how an interpreter joins a 119 call.

    Related guide
    Calling 112 or 119 in Korea When You Do Not Speak Korean
    How an interpreter joins a 119 call.

    This guide does not tell you which symptoms need an emergency room. That is a medical decision, and the 119 line can help you make it.

    What to say at the counter

    Use these when you call a clinic, a pharmacy, 129 or 120. Read the romanized line aloud. If you are there in person, show the Korean line.

    지금 진료하나요?
    Ji-geum jil-lyo-ha-na-yo?
    “Are you seeing patients now?”
    Ask this first when you call.
    오늘 몇 시까지 진료하나요?
    O-neul myeot si-kka-ji jil-lyo-ha-na-yo?
    “Until what time are you seeing patients today?”
    Ask this before you leave home.
    접수 마감이 몇 시예요?
    Jeop-su ma-ga-mi myeot si-ye-yo?
    “What time do you stop registering patients?”
    The portal asks you to check the registration closing time.
    소아 진료도 하나요?
    So-a jil-lyo-do ha-na-yo?
    “Do you also see children?”
    Ask this when the patient is a child.
    오늘 문 여는 약국이 어디예요?
    O-neul mun yeo-neun yak-gu-gi eo-di-ye-yo?
    “Which pharmacies are open today?”
    Ask this on 129 or on 120 during a holiday.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are things closed on Sunday in Korea?
    Not everything. The E-Gen general search has 일요일 (Sunday) and 공휴일 (public holiday) in its day box. Search before the day, then call to confirm.
    How late are Moonlight Children’s Hospitals open?
    The Ministry’s 2025 guideline sets weekday minimum hours of 18:00 to 23:00. On weekends and holidays, the minimum is 10:00 to 18:00. These hours apply only on the days a clinic runs. Check each clinic’s days and hours on the list.
    Can I buy medicine at night in Korea?
    Yes, at a pharmacy that stays open late. E-Gen offers a list of pharmacies open after 22:00. Some registered 24-hour stores also sell a short list of medicines for minor symptoms.
    Who can I call during Seollal or Chuseok?
    The emergency portal names 129, and 120 with your area code in front, for open clinics and pharmacies. For a possible emergency, call 119.
    Seeing a doctor in Korea
    How to See a Doctor in Korea: A First Visit, Step by Step
    How to read a Korean clinic sign, find a clinic, and what happens from the desk to the pharmacy.
    Clinics Open at Night or on Sunday in Korea: How to Find One
    Find a clinic or pharmacy open at night, on Sundays or on holidays, and the children’s night clinics.

    Official sources

    Every rule and screen here comes from the pages below. Hours can change, so check the page and call before you go.

    · Emergency Medical Service Act (응급의료에 관한 법률) · Article 34-2, night and holiday clinics for children · Enforcement Rule · Article 21-2, designation
    · Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (119구조ㆍ구급에 관한 법률) · Article 10-2, 119 emergency medical control centers
    · Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (약사법) · Article 23, dispensing · Article 44-2, medicines in 24-hour stores
    · Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 2025 guideline for night and holiday children’s clinics (PDF, posted by Daedeok-gu)
    Information verified as of October 2026. Opening hours and designated clinics change often. Call the clinic or pharmacy before you go, and call 119 in an emergency.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Cancer Screening in Korea: What Is Free and Who Pays 10%

    Cancer Screening in Korea: What Is Free and Who Pays 10%

    If you are enrolled in National Health Insurance (국민건강보험), Korea’s national cancer screening covers six cancers. The colorectal and cervical cancer tests are free for everyone on the list. For the other four, you pay 10 percent of the cost. If your monthly premium is in the lower half, you pay nothing at all.

    The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단) lists cancer screening on the same notice as the general health checkup. This guide covers which cancers are screened at which age, who counts as high risk, and what you pay. It also shows what changes on 1 January 2027.

    What this guide covers
    01 Which cancers are screened, and at what age
    02 Who counts as high risk for liver and lung cancer
    03 How much you pay
    04 How the colorectal cancer test works in two steps
    05 How to get screened, step by step
    06 What changes on 1 January 2027
    07 What happens if you miss the year
    08 What to say at the counter
    09 Frequently asked questions

    Which cancers are screened, and at what age

    Rules verified October 2026 · Enforcement Decree of the Cancer Control Act, Article 8 and Annex 1 · Cancer Screening Standards, Annex 1

    The Enforcement Decree of the Cancer Control Act (암관리법 시행령) names six cancers and sets the age and cycle for each. A Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) notice, the Cancer Screening Standards (암검진 실시기준), sets the test for each one.

    The six cancers in the national program
    Enforcement Decree of the Cancer Control Act, Annex 1 · Cancer Screening Standards, Annex 1
    Cancer Who How often Test
    Stomach (위암) Men and women aged 40 and over Every 2 years Gastroscopy (위내시경). An upper GI X-ray (위장조영검사) is the option if a gastroscopy is difficult
    Colorectal (대장암) Men and women aged 50 and over Every year Stool test for hidden blood (분변잠혈검사). A colonoscopy follows only if blood is found
    Liver (간암) Aged 40 and over, high risk only Every 6 months Liver ultrasound and a blood test (AFP), on the same day
    Breast (유방암) Women aged 40 and over Every 2 years Mammogram (유방촬영)
    Cervical (자궁경부암) Women aged 20 and over Every 2 years Pap test (자궁경부세포검사)
    Lung (폐암) Aged 54 to 74, high risk only Every 2 years Low-dose chest CT, then a talk about the result

    NHIS splits the liver test into one visit from January to June and one from July to December. If you already have a cancer registered under the special copayment scheme (산정특례), screening for that cancer pauses for that period. NHIS can add you back if you ask.

    Who counts as high risk for liver and lung cancer

    Liver and lung screening are not for everyone of that age. NHIS picks people for these two from records it already holds.

    High risk for liver cancer, aged 40 and over
    ✓ Insurance records. In the two years before, your claims show cirrhosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or chronic liver disease from the B or C virus.
    ✓ An earlier checkup. A past general checkup found hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis C antibody.
    High risk for lung cancer, aged 54 to 74
    ✓ A national checkup questionnaire. In the past two years, it showed at least 30 pack-years of smoking, and you still smoke.
    ✓ The NHIS quit-smoking program. Its questionnaire showed at least 30 pack-years.
    ✓ An earlier lung screening. You had national lung screening before and quit smoking less than 15 years ago. This lasts until age 74.

    A pack-year is the number of packs a day, counting 20 cigarettes as a pack, times the number of years you smoked. So the smoking answers on your checkup questionnaire decide whether you are called for lung screening.

    How much you pay

    Costs verified October 2026 · Cancer Screening Standards (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice 2025-220), Articles 10 and 11

    Articles 10 and 11 of the Cancer Screening Standards split the cost. NHIS pays 90 percent and you pay 10 percent, except for the colorectal and cervical cancer tests, which NHIS pays in full. People whose premium is in the lower half pay nothing for any of the six.

    Your share of the screening cost
    Cancer Screening Standards, Articles 10 and 11 · NHIS cancer screening page
    Your premium Colorectal and cervical Stomach, liver, breast and lung
    In the lower half Free Free
    In the upper half Free 10 percent

    The line between the two halves comes from the monthly premiums of the previous November. It covers the insured person and their dependents. Your premium depends on how you are enrolled.

    Related guide
    Health Insurance in Korea for Foreigners: 2026 Monthly Cost
    Your premium decides which half you are in. See what employees and self-employed members pay each month.

    NHIS also lists costs that are not part of the screening itself.

    When you may pay more
    Colonoscopy without the stool test first. You pay the full cost of the colonoscopy yourself.
    Extras during a colonoscopy. Sedation or polyp removal can add a separate cost.
    Another bowel prep product. If you ask for a bowel prep that is not on the standard list, you pay for it yourself.

    Ask the center about these costs when you book, so the bill on the day is not a surprise.

    How the colorectal cancer test works in two steps

    Rules verified October 2026 · Cancer Screening Standards, Articles 4 and 6

    The first step is a stool test that looks for hidden blood. It is done every year from age 50. You do not need to fast for it.

    If the stool test finds blood, the second step is a colonoscopy. You can take that step until 31 January of the next year. The stomach test works the same way: if an X-ray suggests cancer, a gastroscopy can follow by 31 January.

    After any colonoscopy, the stool test pauses for five years. This counts a colonoscopy from the screening program and one covered by health insurance. The pause runs until the year before the fifth anniversary. You can still ask NHIS to add you back.

    How to get screened, step by step

    Step 1 — Check your notice

    Cancer screening appears on the same checkup notice (건강검진표) as the general checkup. You can also check on the NHIS website under 건강모아, then 나의 건강, then 검진대상 조회. That screen needs a Korean simple authentication or certificate login.

    Step 2 — Find a cancer screening center

    Use the center finder on the NHIS website: 건강모아, then 기관 찾기, then 병(의)원/검진기관 찾기, then 검진기관 찾기. Select the cancer you need, such as 위암 for stomach or 대장암 for colorectal. The finder works without a login.

    Step 3 — Book ahead

    NHIS asks you to book before you visit. A gastroscopy or a colonoscopy needs a slot at the center.

    Step 4 — Prepare for the day

    For the stomach test, do not eat after 9 p.m. the night before. The NHIS notice says the stool test, mammogram and Pap test alone do not need fasting. For the Pap test, NHIS asks you to avoid your period and the two or three days around it.

    Step 5 — Bring ID and complete the questionnaire

    Show your ID at the center. Article 7 of the standards accepts the Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) through the National Health Insurance rules. You then complete a cancer screening questionnaire (암검진 문진표).

    Step 6 — Get your results within 15 days

    The center must send your results within 15 days of the screening, by mail, email or mobile message.

    What changes on 1 January 2027

    Change verified October 2026 · Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice 2026-214, issued 14 October 2026

    The ministry issued a new version of the Cancer Screening Standards on 14 October 2026. It takes effect on 1 January 2027. Who is screened, how often, and what you pay stay the same.

    The change is in how cervical cancer test results are graded. The ministry gives the reason as the revised Bethesda system, the international standard for these results.

    Cervical result grades in 2026 (Notice 2025-220)
    · No abnormal findings (이상소견없음)
    · Reactive findings and infection (반응성 소견 및 감염성 질환)
    · Atypical cells (비정형 세포 이상)
    · Suspected precancerous stage (자궁경부암 전구단계 의심)
    · Suspected cervical cancer (자궁경부암 의심)
    · Other (기타)
    Cervical result grades from 1 January 2027 (Notice 2026-214)
    · Normal (정상)
    · Low risk: atypical cells or a low-grade lesion (저위험)
    · High risk: suspected precancerous lesion (고위험)
    · Suspected cervical cancer (자궁경부암 의심)
    · Cannot be graded, rescreening advised (판정불가)

    The two lists do not match line by line. The 2027 list has five grades, and the doctor now weighs the sample and any clinical information together.

    One finding moves group. A low-grade lesion counts as a suspected precancerous stage in 2026, and as low risk from 2027. The new result sheet can also carry a recommended next step, so ask the doctor what your grade means.

    What happens if you miss the year

    Dates verified October 2026 · NHIS cancer screening page

    The screening year runs from 1 January to 31 December. NHIS does not extend it. Only the second step for stomach or colorectal cancer can run until 31 January of the next year.

    If you missed last year, you can ask NHIS to add you to this year’s list. NHIS warns that your cost may then be different, so ask about it when you call.

    What to say at the counter

    Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud.

    암검진 예약하고 싶어요.
    Am-geom-jin ye-ya-ka-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like to book a cancer screening.”
    Use this when you call the center.
    수면 검사는 비용이 따로 드나요?
    Su-myeon geom-sa-neun bi-yong-i tta-ro deu-na-yo?
    “Is there a separate cost for sedation?”
    Ask this when you book a gastroscopy or colonoscopy.
    국가암검진 받으러 왔습니다.
    Guk-ga-am-geom-jin ba-deu-reo wat-seum-ni-da.
    “I am here for my national cancer screening.”
    Say this first at the reception desk.
    위내시경으로 받고 싶어요.
    Wi-nae-si-gyeong-eu-ro bat-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like a gastroscopy for the stomach test.”
    Use this if the center asks which stomach test you want.
    외국인등록증 여기 있습니다.
    Oe-gu-gin-deung-nok-jeung yeo-gi it-seum-ni-da.
    “Here is my Alien Registration Card.”
    Say this as you give your card.

    Frequently asked questions

    How can I get screened for cancer?
    In Korea, NHIS puts you on the list when you reach the age for each cancer. Check your notice, book a designated cancer screening center, and bring your ID.
    How much does it cost to have cancer screening?
    The colorectal and cervical tests are free. For the stomach, liver, breast and lung tests, you pay 10 percent of the cost. If your premium is in the lower half, all six are free.
    How much is a full health screening in Korea?
    The national general checkup is free for enrolled people on the list, and cancer screening costs 10 percent at most. Tests outside these lists are not part of the national program, so ask the center for the price.
    Can foreign residents get the national cancer screening?
    Yes, if they are enrolled. The Enforcement Decree of the Cancer Control Act covers insured people and their dependents. Under Article 109 of the National Health Insurance Act, enrolled foreign residents are insured people.
    Free checkups and vaccines
    National Health Screening in Korea: Free Checkup With NHIS
    Who is on this year’s list, what the tests are, and the 31 December deadline.
    Cancer Screening in Korea: What Is Free and Who Pays 10%
    Six cancers, the age for each, who counts as high risk, and your share of the cost.
    Flu Vaccine in Korea: Who Gets It Free This Season
    Who gets the flu shot free this season, the start dates, and what to bring.

    Official sources

    Every rule and figure here comes from the pages below. Rules change each year, so open the page before you act on it.

    · Cancer Control Act (암관리법) · Article 11, cancer screening program
    · Enforcement Decree of the Cancer Control Act (암관리법 시행령) · Article 7, who is covered · Article 8 and Annex 1, cancers, ages and cycles
    · Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 암검진 실시기준, Cancer Screening Standards · Notice 2026-214, in force 1 January 2027
    · National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법) · Article 109, foreign residents
    · National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) · 암검진 실시안내 · 2026 checkup notice (PDF) · 검진기관 찾기, center finder
    Information verified as of October 2026. Ages, tests and costs can change each year. Confirm the details with NHIS at 1577-1000, or 033-811-2000 for English, before you go.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • How to See a Doctor in Korea: A First Visit, Step by Step

    How to See a Doctor in Korea: A First Visit, Step by Step

    For a first visit to a doctor in Korea, start with a clinic (의원, ui-won). The Medical Service Act describes clinics as places that mainly treat outpatients. The same article describes hospitals as places that mainly treat inpatients. Find a clinic on a government map and bring your Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증, ARC). If you need medicine, you leave with a prescription for a pharmacy.

    The law says a clinic’s name must be in Korean. Two signs that both show 내과 (internal medicine) can also mean different things. This guide shows how to read the sign and how to find a clinic on the government health map. It also shows what you get at each step of the visit. Every rule comes from the Korean text of the law, and the search steps come from the Korean screens of the map.

    What this guide covers
    01 Which kind of place to go to
    02 How to read a clinic sign
    03 How to find a clinic near you
    04 What happens at the clinic, step by step
    05 What to say at the counter
    06 Frequently asked questions

    Which kind of place to go to

    Rules verified October 2026 · Medical Service Act, Articles 3 and 42 · Enforcement Rule, Article 40

    Korean law sorts medical institutions into types. Each place may use only the name of its own type (Article 42). On the sign, that type name comes last, after the place’s own name (Enforcement Rule, Article 40). So the last word of the name tells you what kind of place it is.

    The last word of the name
    Main types · Medical Service Act, Articles 3, 3-4 and 42 · Enforcement Rule, Article 40
    Last word In English What the law says
    의원 Clinic Mainly treats outpatients
    치과의원 Dental clinic Mainly treats outpatients
    한의원 Korean medicine clinic Mainly treats outpatients
    병원 Hospital Mainly treats inpatients
    종합병원 General hospital Mainly treats inpatients. It may also show only 병원 on its sign
    상급종합병원 Tertiary general hospital A general hospital the Ministry of Health and Welfare has designated. It may use this name only while the designation lasts

    If the name ends in 의원 alone, it is a clinic where medical doctors see outpatients. The type of place also changes what you pay. At the largest hospitals, health insurance applies only with a referral letter, with some exceptions.

    Related guide
    Hospital Costs in Korea: Where to Go and What You Pay
    Your share of the bill depends on the type of place. See the share for each type, and when the biggest hospitals need a referral.

    Dental clinics and Korean medicine clinics are separate types with their own names. A name that ends in 치과의원 or 한의원 is not a 의원 (medical clinic).

    How to read a clinic sign

    Rules verified October 2026 · Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Articles 40, 41 and 42

    A department name can appear on a clinic sign in two ways. Each one tells you something different.

    Two ways a department name appears
    ✓ As part of the clinic’s name. In a name like ○○내과의원, the word 내과 appears between the clinic’s own name and 의원. The name may also start with the field and the word 전문의 (specialist), as in 내과 전문의 ○○의원. The law allows these forms when the doctor who opened the clinic is a specialist in that field (Article 40, items 1 and 4).
    ✓ After the word 진료과목. A board that reads 진료과목 followed by 내과 lists the departments the clinic treats. The law requires the word 진료과목 on that board. A clinic may list only departments it has the staff and equipment for (Article 41). Where space is short, the list may appear on the name sign itself. Its letters must then be no more than half the size of the name’s letters (Articles 40 and 42).

    So ○○의원 with 진료과목 내과 tells you the clinic treats internal medicine. On its own, it does not tell you the doctor is a specialist. The law lists 26 department names for clinics and hospitals. The table below gives 14 of them.

    Department names on clinic signs
    Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Article 41 · 14 of the 26 names
    On the sign In English
    내과 Internal medicine
    가정의학과 Family medicine
    소아청소년과 Pediatrics
    이비인후과 Ear, nose and throat
    피부과 Dermatology
    정형외과 Orthopedics
    안과 Ophthalmology (eyes)
    산부인과 Obstetrics and gynecology
    비뇨의학과 Urology
    신경과 Neurology
    정신건강의학과 Psychiatry
    외과 Surgery
    재활의학과 Rehabilitation medicine
    영상의학과 Radiology

    These names describe fields of medicine. Which field fits your problem is a medical question, and this guide does not answer it. To check whether a clinic treats a field, use the third sentence in the counter section below.

    How to find a clinic near you

    Screens verified October 2026 · Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, health map

    The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA, 건강보험심사평가원) runs a health map (건강지도) of clinics, hospitals and pharmacies. It opens without a login. The search runs on the Korean-language site, so the steps below give each Korean label.

    Search the HIRA health map
    → Open the HIRA health map (건강지도).
    → In the left menu, choose 병원·약국 종류별 찾기 (search by type).
    → Under 종류 (type), choose 의원 for a clinic.
    → Under 진료과목 (department), choose the department you need, for example 내과.
    → Set your area with the box at the top of the panel: 시/도 (province or city), 시/군/구 (district) and 읍/면/동 (neighborhood). Press 확인 (confirm). You can also move the map to where you are.
    → Press 검색 (search).

    Both 종류 and 진료과목 are required, so choose one of each before you search. Each result shows the distance, the phone number and the address. Under 기타 (other), two boxes help with timing. 실시간 문 연 병원 means “open now”. 소아 야간 진료기관(20시이후) means “children’s care after 8 p.m.”

    What happens at the clinic, step by step

    Seoul National University Hospital publishes its outpatient order. You register and see the doctor. Then you pay at the desk, and the desk also gives you the prescription. After that, you go to a pharmacy. The order can differ by clinic. The five steps below follow the same path.

    Step 1 — Register at the reception desk with your ID

    When a clinic treats you under National Health Insurance, it must check who you are and whether you are insured. It does this with your health insurance card or an ID (Article 12 of the National Health Insurance Act). The ARC is on the list of accepted IDs. Give it to the staff at the reception desk. The hospital costs guide covers the other accepted IDs. It also covers what happens if you forget yours.

    Step 2 — See the doctor

    The doctor examines you and decides whether you need medicine. If you and the doctor cannot understand each other, a phone interpretation line may help. The Danuri Call Center (다누리콜센터) lists hospitals among the places its interpreters can call. The law created it for a specific group, and the guide below explains who.

    Related guide
    Free Phone Interpretation in Korea: The Danuri Call Center
    A phone line with interpreters that lists hospitals among its calls. See who the law created it for, and when it is open.

    If you need a prescription, ask the doctor here not to write the disease code on it. Step 4 explains the code. When the doctor gives you an injection, the law lets the doctor prepare that medicine directly (Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Article 23). For other medicine, the doctor writes a prescription (Medical Service Act, Article 18).

    Step 3 — Pay and take the receipt

    When a clinic treats you under National Health Insurance, it must give you a bill and receipt (진료비 계산서·영수증). The rule is Article 7 of the Rules on the Standards for Medical Care Benefits. A clinic may use a shorter receipt form for outpatient visits. The standard receipt form has no box for your diagnosis.

    Related guide
    Medical Insurance Claim in Korea: Which Papers to Get
    The standard receipt form has no box for your diagnosis. See which papers a private insurer asks for, and how to get them.

    Keep the receipt. The insurance claim guide above lists the other papers an insurer asks for.

    Step 4 — Get your prescription

    If you need medicine, the doctor writes a prescription (처방전). The doctor must give you two copies (Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Article 12). The doctor also writes a period of use (사용기간) on it. The period starts on the day the doctor issues the prescription. Take it to a pharmacy within that period.

    The prescription form has a box for a disease classification code (질병분류기호). This code stands for your illness. If you ask, the doctor must not write the code. That is why Step 2 tells you to ask in the exam room.

    Step 5 — Take the prescription to a pharmacy

    A pharmacist prepares the medicine from your prescription (Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Article 23). You choose the pharmacy. The clinic may not instruct or encourage you to use a particular one. If you ask, it may give you a list of the names and locations of pharmacies in the area (Article 24).

    The pharmacist must explain how to take the medicine, by speaking or in writing (Article 24). If you do not understand, ask again before you leave.

    What to say at the counter

    Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud.

    진료 받으러 왔습니다.
    Jil-lyo ba-deu-reo wat-seum-ni-da.
    “I am here to see the doctor.”
    Say this first at the reception desk.
    처음 왔습니다.
    Cheo-eum wat-seum-ni-da.
    “This is my first visit.”
    Say this if you have never been to this clinic.
    여기서 내과 진료를 하나요?
    Yeo-gi-seo nae-gwa jil-lyo-reul ha-na-yo?
    “Does this clinic offer internal medicine?”
    Replace 내과 with the department name you need. The table above lists them.
    처방전에 질병분류기호는 빼 주세요.
    Cheo-bang-jeo-ne jil-byeong-bul-lyu-gi-ho-neun ppae ju-se-yo.
    “Please do not write the disease code on my prescription.”
    Say this to the doctor in the exam room.
    근처 약국을 알려 주실 수 있나요?
    Geun-cheo yak-gu-geul al-lyeo ju-sil su in-na-yo?
    “Could you tell me which pharmacies are nearby?”
    Ask this at the desk when you take your prescription.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can foreigners go to hospital in Korea?
    Yes. Article 15 of the Medical Service Act bars medical professionals and the people who run medical institutions from refusing care. They need a justifiable reason to refuse. The article sets no nationality condition. Whether you have National Health Insurance changes what you pay at the desk.
    Where can foreigners find a doctor in Seoul?
    The HIRA health map includes Seoul. Choose 서울 under 시/도 and your district under 시/군/구. Then search as shown above.
    Can I take my prescription to any pharmacy?
    Yes. The clinic may not instruct or encourage you to use a particular pharmacy. A pharmacist may not refuse to prepare medicine from a prescription without a justifiable reason (Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Article 24).
    Does every clinic have an English sign?
    The Enforcement Rule requires the name in Korean. A foreign-language name is optional (Article 40). That is why the Korean words in this guide matter.
    Seeing a doctor in Korea
    How to See a Doctor in Korea: A First Visit, Step by Step
    How to read a Korean clinic sign, find a clinic, and what happens from the desk to the pharmacy.
    Clinics Open at Night or on Sunday in Korea: How to Find One
    Find a clinic or pharmacy open at night, on Sundays or on holidays, and the children’s night clinics.

    Official sources

    Every rule here comes from the pages below. Laws change, so open the article before you rely on it.

    · Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act (의료법 시행규칙) · Article 12, prescriptions · Article 40, name signs · Article 41, departments · Article 42, letter size
    · Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (약사법) · Article 23, dispensing · Article 24, pharmacy duties
    · National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법) · Article 12, identity check · Enforcement Rule of the Act · Article 7, accepted IDs · Rules on the Standards for Medical Care Benefits (국민건강보험 요양급여의 기준에 관한 규칙) · Article 7, receipts
    · Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (건강보험심사평가원) · 건강지도, health map
    · Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원) · 외래 진료 절차, outpatient order
    Information verified as of October 2026. Rules and screens change. Confirm the details with the official source before you go.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Korean Spelling Practice at Home: A Korean Mom’s Guide

    Korean Spelling Practice at Home: A Korean Mom’s Guide

    How a child learns Korean spelling depends on whether they hear Korean at home. Korean children already speak the language, so they learn spelling by writing words down until the shapes stick. Children in foreign families are missing the speaking half, and their parents need a map that Korean parents never use.

    I am a Korean mother of two sons in elementary school. Nobody taught me spelling as a set of sound rules, and I do not teach my children that way either. This guide explains how Korean children actually learn, where the mistakes start, and a simple four-stage order you can follow at home.

    What this guide covers
    01 How Korean children actually learn spelling
    02 Where the mistakes start
    03 Why foreign parents need a map
    04 Why handwriting matters
    05 Reading aloud and asking what it means
    06 A practice order you can follow at home
    07 Frequently asked questions

    How Korean children actually learn spelling

    Checked October 2026 · Ministry of Education Hangul policy · 2024 parent survey

    Korean schools teach Hangul from the first letter. Under the Ministry of Education’s Hangul policy, schools are also asked to avoid heavy dictation, notice-book writing and diary writing in the first semester of first grade.

    Most families do not wait for school. In a 2024 survey of 209 first-grade parents by two Korean education and parent groups, 사교육걱정없는세상 and 정치하는엄마들, 64.8% said their child had learned Hangul before starting school. Among those parents, the most common reason (61.2%, more than one answer allowed) was that school lessons seemed to assume children could already read.

    What happens at home is less formal than you might think. Nobody in my house studies “sound-changing final consonants.” Korean children learn how words sound by talking, and pronunciation even varies from person to person. People understand each other anyway. Spelling is the part that has to be learned on paper.

    My own habits are small ones. In the middle of a conversation, I ask which batchim a word has. My children have a children’s dictionary and look up words they meet in books. And they copy children’s poems and songs from copying workbooks.

    Where the mistakes start

    Rules checked October 2026 · Standard pronunciation rules (표준 발음법), Articles 12 and 13

    In my experience, the mistakes start the moment children learn batchim that change their sound, like 낮 (daytime) or 부엌 (kitchen). After that, they get things wrong almost at random.

    Two everyday words show why. My children wrote 좋아 (I like it) as 조아, and 알았어 (got it) as 아라써. They wrote exactly what they heard.

    Written one way, heard another
    Pronunciations follow the standard pronunciation rules
    Written Sounds like What happens
    좋아 (I like it) [조아] The ㅎ at the bottom goes silent before a vowel (Article 12)
    알았어 (got it) [아라써] Each batchim slides over to the next syllable (Article 13)
    낮이 (the daytime) [나지] The batchim slides over (Article 13)
    부엌이 (the kitchen) [부어키] The batchim slides over (Article 13)

    Pairs that sound exactly the same, such as 갖다, 갔다 and 같다, are harder still.

    Why foreign parents need a map

    Here is where foreign families differ. A Korean child hears 옷이 as one familiar word. A parent who learned Korean as an adult may know 옷 (clothes) and still be lost in a shop when someone says [오시] or [오슨]. The word you know becomes a word you have never heard.

    That is why a map helps, even though Korean parents never use one. It is less for your child than for you. It tells you which stage your child is in, and why the mistakes look the way they do.

    The national curriculum points the same way. Its first- and second-grade Korean standards say children should learn that sound and spelling can differ, and then read and write words correctly (standard [2국04-02]). Teachers are told to start with words that are spelled the way they sound, then slowly move to words that are not.

    Four stages, from easiest to hardest
    ✓ 1. No batchim · 모자, 바다, 우유 · quick wins that build confidence
    ✓ 2. Batchim · 꽃, 낮, 부엌 · where the mistakes start
    ✓ 3. Same-sounding pairs · 갖다 / 갔다 / 같다, 안 / 않 · learned by meaning
    ✓ 4. Sentences with spaces · one empty box between words

    In my view, foreign parents will find stage 2 the most useful, especially the words where a batchim slides into the next syllable. That is exactly what makes everyday Korean hard to follow in conversation.

    Why handwriting matters

    Some workbooks print the last line or two in gray for tracing. In my experience, tracing made little difference compared with writing alone. What matters is writing neatly: holding the pencil properly and forming each syllable with care. Once children know their letters, their handwriting tends to fall apart.

    I actually prefer a plain notebook, because I can see clearly whether each letter was written correctly. With gray letters underneath, it is harder to tell.

    Handwriting is getting harder for this generation. My children’s school has used tablets instead of paper textbooks in some lessons, and there are fewer reasons to hold a pencil. Some days my son cannot read his own writing. If I cannot read it either, he writes it again.

    When my children do not want to write, I do not bargain. If they resist, they write more. I do not give praise or rewards for something they simply have to do. That is my way, and it has kept the routine going.

    Reading aloud and asking what it means

    My younger son copies one children’s poem a day from a poem workbook, then reads it aloud to the family.

    One day the poem used 동무, an old word for friend. I guessed he would not know it, so I asked. He came over, put his arm around my shoulder and said, “Isn’t it the 동무 in 어깨동무?” 어깨동무 means walking with your arms around each other’s shoulders. He was not wrong, exactly, and it made me laugh. But he would have read straight past the word if I had not asked.

    Another poem had a sound word for rain hitting an umbrella, something like 후두둑. He kept trying to work out what it meant. He did not see that it had no meaning beyond the sound itself. I only found out because I happened to ask.

    Korean uses many words like this, which copy a sound or a movement. Children do not always say when they do not understand, and I would not have noticed either, because these are easy words for me. A foreign parent is even less likely to catch it. So just ask. After your child reads aloud, point to a word and ask what it means. A children’s dictionary helps with the answer.

    A practice order you can follow at home

    Put together, this is the routine I would suggest at each of the four stages.

    One practice session
    ✓ Read aloud, syllable by syllable
    ✓ Ask what one or two words mean
    ✓ Write each word neatly, by hand
    ✓ Take a 10-item dictation
    ✓ Rewrite every wrong item at least five times

    I am making my dictation practice lists in this same four-stage order. A family cannot follow the school curriculum unit by unit, so I order mine by how hard the spelling is. I start with words that have no batchim, because children learn them quickly, and that early confidence matters most. The first goal is a child who does not refuse to start.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do Korean children learn spelling?
    Mostly by speaking first and then writing words down until the shapes stick. At home, pronunciation is rarely taught as a set of rules.
    Why does my child write 조아 instead of 좋아?
    Because 좋아 is pronounced [조아]. The ㅎ at the bottom goes silent before a vowel, so the sound gives no clue.
    Are tracing worksheets enough for Korean handwriting?
    In my children’s case, tracing made little difference. Writing neatly in a plain notebook worked better, because mistakes were easier to see.
    Do Korean children learn Hangul before first grade?
    Many do. In a 2024 survey of 209 first-grade parents by two Korean education and parent groups, 64.8% said their child learned Hangul before school.
    Hangul at school
    Does Your Child Need to Read Korean Before First Grade?
    What preschools and first grade are told to teach, and how a Korean parent prepared two boys for school.
    Korean Spelling Mistakes: Why Even Korean Kids Get It Wrong
    Why Korean is not spelled the way it sounds, and the words Korean children still mix up in fourth grade.
    Korean Dictation Test (Badasseugi): A Guide for Parents
    How the weekly test works, what the practice list is, and how to help at home even if you can’t read Korean.
    Korean Spelling Practice at Home: A Korean Mom’s Guide
    How Korean children really learn spelling, a four-stage map for foreign parents, and a simple routine for home.

    Official sources

    The pronunciation rules, the Hangul policy and the national curriculum come from the official pages below. The survey is not a government source, so it is named in full where it appears.

    · National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) · Standard pronunciation rules (표준 발음법), Articles 12 and 13
    · Ministry of Education (교육부) · Hangul education policy announcement, October 2019
    · National Education Commission (국가교육위원회) · elementary school curriculum, Korean, Notice No. 2024-3 · National Curriculum Information Center
    · 사교육걱정없는세상 · 정치하는엄마들 · 2024 survey of first-grade parents (Korean)
    Information verified as of October 2026. Practice at school differs between schools and teachers. Ask your child’s teacher how spelling is taught in their class.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Korea Immigration Agent: What a Registered Haengjeongsa Can File for You

    Korea Immigration Agent: What a Registered Haengjeongsa Can File for You

    Yes, someone else can file most immigration applications for you in Korea. For a paid agent, that means a lawyer or a haengjeongsa (행정사, administrative agent) registered with the Ministry of Justice. You must still be in Korea when the application is filed.

    The rules are in Article 79-2 of the Immigration Act and in a Ministry of Justice notice on registered agents. Here is what an agent can file, what still needs you in person, and how to check that an agent is registered before you pay.

    What this guide covers
    01 Who can file an application for you
    02 What a registered agent can file
    03 What still needs you in person
    04 How to check that an agent is registered
    05 What the fee and contract should look like
    06 What happens when an agent breaks the rules

    Who can file an application for you

    Rules verified October 2026 · Immigration Act, Article 79-2 · Enforcement Rules, Article 68-3

    The law names one group of paid agents. They are lawyers and haengjeongsa, and firms or joint offices staffed by them. Each must finish at least four hours of Ministry of Justice training. Then the agent registers with the immigration office for the area where its own office is.

    Not every haengjeongsa can register. The Ministry’s notice on registered agents leaves out technical haengjeongsa and translation haengjeongsa. A registered agent in Korean is 출입국민원 대행기관.

    Children are a separate case. If a child under 17 does not apply, a parent must apply for the child (Immigration Act, Article 79). This covers registration, extensions, changes of status and address reports, among others.

    If neither parent can do it, the duty passes down a fixed order (Enforcement Decree, Article 89). It goes first to the person who actually supports the child, then a sibling, then the guarantor, then another person living with the child.

    For family members and friends, the rules are less clear. Hi Korea’s Korean guide to extensions says you or a proxy (대리인) may apply. Article 34 of the Enforcement Rules says the Minister of Justice decides who may act as a proxy.

    What a registered agent can file

    The Act and the Enforcement Rules list the work an agent may do. The Ministry’s notice adds first registration and some card reissues, with conditions.

    What a registered agent can file for you
    Immigration Act Art. 79-2 · Enforcement Rules Art. 68-3 · Ministry notice on agents, Arts. 4 and 5
    Application Korean name Can an agent file it?
    Visa issuance certificate 사증발급인정서 Yes
    Activities outside your status 체류자격 외 활동허가 Yes
    Change or addition of workplace 근무처 변경·추가 Yes
    Granting of status 체류자격 부여 Yes
    Change of status 체류자격 변경허가 Yes
    Extension of stay 체류기간 연장허가 Yes
    Reentry permit 재입국허가 Yes
    Change of registered details 등록사항 변경신고 Yes
    Change of address 체류지 변경신고 Yes
    Picking up a new or reissued card 등록증·영주증 수령 Yes
    First registration 외국인등록 Yes, but you give your fingerprints and confirm your identity yourself
    Card reissue after a loss 분실 재발급 No

    A replacement for a lost card is the one reissue an agent cannot file. You apply for that one yourself.

    Related guide
    What to Do If You Lose Your Alien Registration Card in Korea
    Report the loss online first, then apply for a new card in person. This guide covers both steps, the documents and the 35,000 KRW fee.

    An agent files at the office that covers your address, not the agent’s own office. If you are not sure which office that is, see the guide to finding your immigration office.

    An agent registered for more than three months may also file on Hi Korea e-Application, using a company certificate. The same online rules apply as when you file yourself, explained in the guide to Hi Korea e-Application.

    What still needs you in person

    Using an agent does not take you out of the process. The notice gives the immigration officer three ways to involve you directly.

    When you still have to act yourself
    ✓ The officer asks you to come in. The officer can ask you to attend in person when it is needed. The agent must help arrange it.
    ✓ The officer wants to question you. An officer may ask you questions or interview you. The agent must not get in the way.
    ✓ It is a first registration. You give your fingerprints and confirm your identity by the date the officer sets. If you do not, the application can be returned.

    Hi Korea’s guide to extensions adds a limit by status. It says some statuses cannot use a proxy, and it names marriage migrants on F-6 as one of them. It does not list the others.

    Related guide
    How to Extend Your Stay in Korea: Timing, Fee, and Documents
    You must be in Korea on the day you apply. This guide covers the four-month window, the fee, the documents and what happens after your expiry date.

    Being in Korea is a rule for every applicant, with or without an agent. The Ministry’s 2026 guide to stay applications says an agent cannot file for a person who has left Korea. Leaving after you apply can also lead to a refusal.

    How to check that an agent is registered

    List checked October 2026 · Hi Korea list of registered agents (as of 30 September 2026)

    Hi Korea publishes the full list of registered agents as a PDF and an Excel file. The list dated 30 September 2026 has 4,236 agents. It gives each agent’s name, address and phone number, sorted by region.

    Three checks before you hand over your passport
    01 Find the agent in Hi Korea’s list. Search the Excel file for the office name, then compare the address. The notice is called 출입국민원 대행업무 관련 규정 및 등록 대행기관 현황.
    02 Ask to see the registration certificate (등록증). A registered agent must show it when you ask. It should also be displayed inside the office.
    03 Read the name and the claims. An agent may say it is registered with the Ministry of Justice. It may not say it is designated by the Ministry.

    The notice also bars some office names from registration. Examples it gives are Hi Korea Haengjeongsa, 1345 Haengjeongsa and Seoul Immigration Haengjeongsa. Names like these suggest a government link that the agent does not have.

    At the immigration office, agents and their staff wear an access badge (출입증) from the office where the agent registered. Registered agents can also use a separate agents’ counter where the office runs one.

    What the fee and contract should look like

    There is no official price for an agent’s work. The Ministry’s notice says only that an agent must charge a fee that is reasonable by ordinary social standards.

    That fee is separate from the government fee for the application itself. The government fee is set by law and is the same whoever files, as listed in the guide to immigration fees.

    What the notice requires of an agent
    ✓ A contract with you for the work
    ✓ A record of your case, kept for three years after it closes
    ✓ Your personal information handled under the Personal Information Protection Act
    ✓ Payment for any financial loss caused on purpose or by carelessness

    A paid agent is not the only help available. If your question is about your rights rather than paperwork, free legal advice may answer it first.

    Related guide
    Free Legal Advice in Korea: Three Routes and Who Each Is For
    Three public services answer legal questions for free. This guide shows which one fits you and how to reach it without speaking Korean.

    What happens when an agent breaks the rules

    The Ministry of Justice can cancel an agent’s registration, suspend its work for up to six months, or order a correction (Immigration Act, Article 79-3). Registration must be cancelled when it was obtained by fraud, or when the agent works during a suspension.

    Grounds listed in Article 79-3
    ✓ Giving you exaggerated or false information, or winning your business that way
    ✓ Preparing or filing forged, altered or false documents
    ✓ Losing or damaging documents you handed over, or failing to file what was needed

    Forged documents harm the applicant, not only the agent. The standard procedure in the Enforcement Rules tells agents to make sure clients are not put at a disadvantage by false papers. The office that registered the agent can inspect its records and apply these penalties.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can a friend extend my visa for me in Korea?
    Possibly, but the rules are not published in full. Hi Korea says you or a proxy may apply, and that some statuses, including F-6, cannot use one. A registered lawyer or haengjeongsa is the route the law sets out.
    Can an agent apply for me while I am outside Korea?
    No. Hi Korea says applications and proxy filing from abroad are not possible. The Ministry’s guide says an agent cannot file for a person who has left Korea.
    Can a haengjeongsa file my application online?
    Yes, if the agent has been registered for more than three months. It files on Hi Korea e-Application with a company certificate.
    How much does a haengjeongsa charge for a visa extension?
    There is no official rate. The Ministry’s notice says the fee must be reasonable by ordinary social standards. The government fee for the extension is charged separately.
    Can parents apply for their child’s visa?
    Yes. If a child under 17 does not apply, a parent must. If neither parent can, the duty passes to the child’s supporter, a sibling, the guarantor, then another person living with the child.
    Before you visit immigration
    How to Book an Immigration Appointment in Korea on Hi Korea
    Offices have required a booking since 2021, and the earliest slot is tomorrow.
    Which Immigration Office in Korea? Find Yours by Address
    Your office is set by your address. How to find it on Hi Korea, and the full map for Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do.
    Korea Visa Extension Fee and Every Other Immigration Fee
    Every fee in one table, how each is paid, the 20% online discount, and the card payment that starts in 2027.
    Korea Immigration Application Form: Every Box Explained
    Every box on Form No. 34, the income line in 10,000 KRW units, and the line the English version leaves out.
    Can I Extend My Visa Online in Korea? Hi Korea e-Application
    What you can file online, which statuses can extend online, and the last day: the day before your expiry date.
    Korea Immigration Agent: What a Registered Haengjeongsa Can File for You
    What a registered agent can file, what still needs you in person, and how to check an agent on Hi Korea’s list.

    Official sources

    The rules and lists below are the sources for this guide. The list of registered agents is updated from time to time, so check the date on the file.

    · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Immigration Act Article 79 · Article 79-2 · Article 79-3 (Korean)
    · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Enforcement Decree Article 89 · Enforcement Rules Article 34 · Article 68-3 (Korean)
    · Hi Korea, rules on agents and list of registered agents (Korean) · Ministry of Justice notice No. 2021-447 and the list as of 30 September 2026
    · Hi Korea, using a registered immigration agent (Korean)
    · Hi Korea, extension of stay guide (Korean)
    Information verified as of October 2026. The rules on agents and the list of registered agents can change. Check Hi Korea before you sign, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • National Health Screening in Korea: Free Checkup With NHIS

    National Health Screening in Korea: Free Checkup With NHIS

    If you are enrolled in National Health Insurance (국민건강보험), your general health checkup is free. In 2026 it covers people born in an even-numbered year, plus every employee in a non-office job. Some groups also have an age limit, shown in the first table. You have until 31 December 2026 to take it.

    This is the national checkup run by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단). It is not a paid full body checkup package. A Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) notice sets the list of tests. Under Article 109 of the National Health Insurance Act, enrolled foreign residents are insured people too, so the rules below apply to them.

    What this guide covers
    01 Who gets the free checkup in 2026
    02 What the checkup includes
    03 How much it costs
    04 How to get the checkup, step by step
    05 What happens if you miss 31 December
    06 How the result helps in other places
    07 What to say at the counter
    08 Frequently asked questions

    Who gets the free checkup in 2026

    Rules verified October 2026 · National Health Insurance Act, Article 52 · Enforcement Decree, Article 25 · NHIS 2026 checkup notice

    Article 52 of the National Health Insurance Act names who can take the general checkup (일반건강검진). The Enforcement Decree sets the cycle at least once every two years. Employees who do not work in an office take it every year. NHIS splits the two-year cycle by year of birth.

    Who is on the 2026 list
    National Health Insurance Act, Article 52 · NHIS 2026 general checkup notice
    Your insurance status Korean name Age On the 2026 list
    Employee, non-office job 직장가입자 (비사무직) Any age Every year
    Employee, office job 직장가입자 (사무직) Any age Born in an even year
    Self-employed member, head of household 지역가입자 세대주 Any age Born in an even year
    Self-employed member, other household member 지역가입자 세대원 20 or older Born in an even year
    Dependent of an employee 피부양자 20 or older Born in an even year

    If you are an employee and due only for the general checkup, NHIS sends the list to your workplace instead of a personal notice. Ask your workplace whether you are on it.

    NHIS warns that the list can change. A stay abroad, starting or leaving a job, or a loss of insurance coverage can change it. Check again before you go. Your row in the table depends on your type of enrollment.

    Related guide
    How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Korea as a Foreigner
    Not sure which row is yours? See when coverage starts for your visa, and whether you join as an employee or a self-employed member.

    Once you are enrolled and on the list, you do not apply for the checkup. NHIS sends a checkup notice (건강검진표), or a list to your workplace.

    What the checkup includes

    The Ministry of Health and Welfare notice on checkup standards (건강검진 실시기준) sets the list of tests. Everyone gets the same basic set. Some tests are added at certain ages.

    Tests everyone gets
    ✓ Doctor’s interview and exam. The doctor reviews the questionnaire you complete.
    ✓ Body measurements. Height, weight, waist size and body mass index.
    ✓ Vision, hearing and blood pressure.
    ✓ Chest X-ray.
    ✓ Blood and urine tests. Hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, liver enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT), creatinine and kidney function (eGFR), and urine protein.
    ✓ Dental exam. A dentist checks your teeth and gums.
    Tests added at certain ages
    Health Checkup Standards, Annex 1 · NHIS general checkup page
    Test Who gets it
    Cholesterol, four types Men from 24 and women from 40, every four years
    Hepatitis B Age 40, unless you already carry the virus or are immune
    Hepatitis C Age 56
    Lung function Ages 56 and 66 · new in 2026
    Bone density Women aged 54, 60 and 66
    Depression screening Every two years from 20 to 34, then once between 35 and 39, and once in each ten-year span from 40 to 79
    Early psychosis screening Ages 20 to 34, every two years
    Lifestyle assessment Ages 40, 50, 60 and 70
    Cognitive function From 66, every two years
    Physical function for older adults Ages 66, 70 and 80
    Dental plaque test Age 40

    If the lung function test is on your notice, check the center first. NHIS asks people due for this new test to confirm that the center has the equipment before they visit.

    How much it costs

    Costs verified October 2026 · Health Checkup Standards (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice 2026-6), Articles 12 and 14

    For an insured person or a dependent, NHIS pays the full cost of the general checkup. Article 12 of the checkup standards says so. You pay nothing at the center for the tests in the standard list.

    Three cases where you may have to pay
    Extra tests. NHIS does not pay for tests outside the standard list. If a center offers more, ask the price before you agree.
    A second checkup in the same cycle. NHIS can ask you to pay back the cost of the extra checkup (Article 14).
    Cancer screening. Your notice can also list cancer screening, which is a separate program. For some cancer tests, you pay 10 percent of the cost. People with lower premiums pay nothing.

    A follow-up visit is also covered. Some results suggest a possible disease: high blood pressure, diabetes, abnormal cholesterol, tuberculosis, depression, early psychosis or hepatitis C. In those cases you can visit a clinic for a confirming test. You do not pay your share for the first visit if you go by 31 March 2027. For hepatitis C, you pay at the clinic first. Then you ask NHIS to pay you back.

    How to get the checkup, step by step

    Step 1 — Check that you are on this year’s list

    NHIS sends the checkup notice as an electronic document. If you do not open it, the notice goes by mail to your registered address. Employees are listed through their workplace. You can also check on the NHIS website under 건강모아, then 나의 건강, then 검진대상 조회. That screen needs a Korean simple authentication or certificate login.

    If you lost the notice or never got one, NHIS asks you to call 1577-1000 or visit a branch office. Staff there can issue it again.

    Step 2 — Find a designated checkup center and book

    You can take the checkup at any designated center in Korea, wherever your address is. The center finder on the NHIS website works without a login, and the NHIS app, 건강보험 25시, has the same menu. Go to 건강모아, then 기관 찾기, then 병(의)원/검진기관 찾기, then 검진기관 찾기, and select 일반 for the general checkup. NHIS asks you to check and book ahead, because bookings at a center can close early.

    Step 3 — Do not eat after 9 p.m. the night before

    On the morning of the checkup, skip breakfast. NHIS also asks you to avoid water, coffee, milk, juice, cigarettes and gum. If your checkup is in the afternoon, do not eat for at least eight hours before it.

    Step 4 — Bring ID and complete the questionnaire

    The checkup standards accept a Korean resident registration card (주민등록증), a driver’s license or a passport. They also accept the IDs named in Article 7 of the Enforcement Rule. That article names the Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증). The center checks your status with NHIS, then gives you a health questionnaire (문진표) to complete.

    Step 5 — Get your results within 15 days

    The center must send your results within 15 days of the checkup, by mail or email. If a result suggests a disease, the center tells you to see a doctor for a follow-up test.

    What happens if you miss 31 December

    Dates verified October 2026 · NHIS general checkup page

    The checkup period runs from 1 January to 31 December each year. There is one exception. If you were on last year’s list and did not go, you can ask NHIS to add you to this year’s list.

    A missed year does not move to the next year by itself. You must ask NHIS during the following year.

    How the result helps in other places

    A checkup result can save you a separate test. NHIS lists two uses. First, it can replace part of the driver’s license check. If you had a national checkup in the two years before you apply or renew, you may not need the vision and hearing test. This applies only after NHIS has settled the center’s claim for your checkup.

    Related guide
    Korean Driver’s License Renewal: The New Birthday Window
    Renewing a Korean license? See who needs the physical check, and when your renewal window opens.

    Second, your checkup result can replace a pre-employment checkup (채용 신체검사). NHIS accepts either its replacement notice or your result notice for this. The replacement notice covers a checkup from the last two years. Print it from the NHIS website under 채용 건강검진 대체 통보서.

    What to say at the counter

    Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud.

    일반건강검진 예약하고 싶어요.
    Il-ban-geon-gang-geom-jin ye-ya-ka-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like to book a general health checkup.”
    Use this when you call the center.
    폐기능 검사 장비 있나요?
    Pye-gi-neung geom-sa jang-bi in-na-yo?
    “Do you have the equipment for the lung function test?”
    Ask this when you book, if the lung function test is on your notice.
    국가건강검진 받으러 왔습니다.
    Guk-ga-geon-gang-geom-jin ba-deu-reo wat-seum-ni-da.
    “I am here for my national health checkup.”
    Say this first at the reception desk.
    외국인등록증 여기 있습니다.
    Oe-gu-gin-deung-nok-jeung yeo-gi it-seum-ni-da.
    “Here is my Alien Registration Card.”
    Say this as you give your card.
    검진 결과는 이메일로 받고 싶어요.
    Geom-jin gyeol-gwa-neun i-me-il-lo bat-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like to get my results by email.”
    Say this before you leave if you prefer email to mail.

    Frequently asked questions

    Where can foreigners get a free medical checkup in Korea?
    At any designated checkup center in Korea, if you are enrolled in National Health Insurance and on this year’s list. Use the NHIS center finder to pick one near you.
    Can foreigners get a full medical checkup in Korea?
    The national checkup is a fixed list of tests. Tests outside that list are not covered by NHIS, so a full body checkup package costs extra. Ask the center for the price.
    Is a health checkup covered in insurance?
    Yes. NHIS pays the full cost of the general checkup for insured people and dependents on the list. Tests outside the standard list are not covered.
    How much does a medical checkup cost for foreigners in Korea?
    The national general checkup costs nothing if you are enrolled and on the list. Cancer screening is a separate program. For some cancer tests, you pay 10 percent of the cost.
    Free checkups and vaccines
    National Health Screening in Korea: Free Checkup With NHIS
    Who is on this year’s list, what the tests are, and the 31 December deadline.
    Cancer Screening in Korea: What Is Free and Who Pays 10%
    Six cancers, the age for each, who counts as high risk, and your share of the cost.
    Flu Vaccine in Korea: Who Gets It Free This Season
    Who gets the flu shot free this season, the start dates, and what to bring.

    Official sources

    Every rule and date here comes from the pages below. Rules change each year, so open the page before you act on it.

    · National Health Insurance Act (국민건강보험법) · Article 52, health checkups · Article 109, foreign residents
    · Enforcement Decree of the Act (국민건강보험법 시행령) · Article 25, cycle and notices
    · Enforcement Rule of the Act (국민건강보험법 시행규칙) · Article 7, accepted ID
    · National Health Insurance Service (국민건강보험공단) · 일반건강검진 실시안내 · 2026 checkup notice (PDF) · 검진기관 찾기, center finder
    Information verified as of October 2026. Eligibility, tests and dates change each year. Confirm the details with NHIS at 1577-1000, or 033-811-2000 for English, before you go.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.