Registry data from HIRA. Doctor counts, board certification, addresses and opening years come from Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service public data.
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Korean Medicine & Acupuncture clinic interior in Korea
Specialty

Korean Medicine & Acupuncture in Korea

Korean medicine is a separate licensed profession with its own six-year university training and national examination, practised in dedicated clinics alongside the conventional medical system.

61 listed clinics · 2 procedure guides

Korean medicine doctors hold a distinct licence from medical doctors and cannot prescribe conventional pharmaceuticals, while medical doctors cannot practise acupuncture or herbal prescribing. The two systems run in parallel and are both covered in part by national health insurance.

Herbal decoctions are prepared per patient after a diagnostic consultation. If you take prescription medication, tell the practitioner, because herb-drug interaction is real and some herbs affect anticoagulation and liver enzymes.

Procedures in Korean Medicine & Acupuncture

Acupuncture

Acupuncture in Korean medicine clinics is most commonly sought for musculoskeletal pain, and sessions typically combine needling with cupping, moxibustion or physical therapy in one visit.

61 clinics · 20,000 - 60,000 per session KRW

Herbal Medicine Consultation

A herbal medicine consultation produces a decoction formulated for the individual patient after pulse, tongue and constitutional assessment, usually dispensed as a two to four week course in sealed pouches.

61 clinics · 300,000 - 800,000 per month KRW

Clinics

Showing 61 clinics

Frequently asked questions

Is acupuncture covered by insurance in Korea?

Acupuncture and some herbal treatments are partly covered by national health insurance for residents. International visitors pay privately, typically 20,000 to 60,000 KRW per acupuncture session.

Can I bring herbal medicine home?

Prepared decoctions travel in sealed pouches, but many countries restrict herbal imports. Ask the clinic for an ingredient list in English and check your own customs rules before flying.

Further reading

Recovery Time and When You Can Fly

The length of your trip is set by the mandatory follow-up interval, not by how quickly you feel well, and flying too early raises the risk of swelling, bleeding and thrombosis.

Medical Costs and Payment in Korea

Foreign patients without Korean national health insurance pay the full private rate, which is still typically 30 to 70 percent below US pricing for the same procedure, and card payment is accepted almost everywhere.

Source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, medical institution information https://www.hira.or.kr/eng/main.do