I just visited a dermatology clinic and the doctor gave me a prescription, but then told me to go to a pharmacy to get the actual medication. This was confusing at first!
So I learned that in Korea, doctors prescribe but pharmacies dispense. They are completely separate. You take your prescription paper to any nearby pharmacy (약국, yakguk) and they fill it on the spot.
The pharmacist didn’t speak much English, but the prescription had everything written clearly so there was no issue. I paid about 8,000 KRW for my medication.
One tip: pharmacies right next to hospitals tend to be more experienced with the prescriptions from that hospital. And many pharmacies near tourist areas have basic English ability.
Anyone else have tips for navigating Korean pharmacies as a foreigner?