Blog · November 10, 2026
What to buy in a Korean pharmacy
What to buy in a Korean pharmacy, going by 2026 news reports: scar and acne ointments (Noscana, Acnon), repair creams (Madeca Cream, Easydew, PDRN creams), pain-relief patches, cold medicine and vitamins. Myeongdong alone has about 30 pharmacies set up for tourists, many with English, Chinese and Japanese signs. Here's how to shop them without guessing.
Why pharmacies are suddenly a tourist stop
Korean pharmacies (yakguk, 약국) used to be where locals picked up prescriptions and cold pills. Then social media found them. Foreign visitors spent 141.4 billion won at Korean pharmacies in 2025, up 142.2% on the year before, according to a Hana Institute of Finance report covered by Dailypharm.
The pull is simple. Some creams and ointments are classed as over-the-counter medicines, and those can only be sold in a pharmacy. You won't find them at Olive Young.
What people actually ask for
These are the products and categories named in Korean news in 2026. I'm listing what people buy and what the product is for, not whether it works for your skin. Ask the pharmacist about that.
- Scar and acne ointments: Dong-A Pharmaceutical's Noscana Gel (scars) and Acnon Cream (acne). A Namdaemun pharmacist told the Korea Times these are among the most requested items. Both are pharmacy-only OTC medicines.
- Repair creams: Madeca Cream, Easydew and Rejuvenex PDRN are the names the Korea Herald heard in Myeongdong. Pharmacy PDRN skincare is sold as a cosmetic, not a medicine.
- Pain-relief patches: called paseu (파스) in Korea. A Myeongdong pharmacist said Chinese-speaking shoppers buy them a lot.
- Cold medicine, antacids and throat lozenges: the "while I'm here" buys, according to the same reports.
- Vitamins and supplements: vitamins, probiotics, omega-3, lutein and red ginseng.
- Spot care: pimple patches, plus creams for dark spots. The same Myeongdong pharmacist said Japanese visitors often look for hydroquinone and glutathione products.
My tip: write your list in Korean or show a photo of the box. Pharmacies carry lots of look-alike tubes, and a picture saves a long back-and-forth. If you take any regular medicine at home, tell the pharmacist before you buy cold or pain pills.
Where to go
- Myeongdong: local shop owners count about 30 tourist-oriented pharmacies between Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2) and Myeongdong Station (Line 4). Price tags are often in English, Chinese and Japanese. Expect queues on weekday afternoons and weekends.
- Seongsu and Hongdae: news reports from 2026 show pharmacy spending by foreigners jumping in Seongsu, and Hongdae pharmacies adding foreign-language staff.
- Any neighborhood pharmacy: the OTC creams above are sold in ordinary pharmacies too. They just may not have English signs.
Tax refund at pharmacies
Some tourist pharmacies offer tax refunds, but not all. Korea's general rule is 15,000 won or more on one receipt, with your passport, at a shop marked Tax Free. Ask before you pay, the same way as at Daiso.
Late at night or on a Sunday
Many neighborhood pharmacies close in the evening and on Sundays. Two options:
- Convenience stores sell 13 approved "safe household medicines" since 2012: Tylenol 500 mg, two cold medicines (Pancol A, Panpyrin T), digestion tablets (Bearse, Dr. Bearse, Festal Gold, Festal Plus) and two pain patches (Jeil Cool Pap, Sinsin Pas Arex). Children's Tylenol tablets were discontinued in 2022, so you may not find every item.
- Holiday pharmacies: the Korean Pharmaceutical Association's site pharm114.or.kr shows which pharmacies open on Sundays, holidays and late at night. It's in Korean, so a translate app helps.
Products and spending figures from Korea Times (Oct 24, 2026), Korea Herald (Oct 26, 2026), Kyunghyang (Jul 4, 2026), Newsis (Mar and May 2026) and Dailypharm (Feb 2026). Convenience-store medicine list from Dailypharm and Medical Times. Checked November 10, 2026. Prices aren't listed because they vary by pharmacy.
Questions
What to buy in a Korean pharmacy?
Tourists in Korean pharmacies mostly buy scar and acne ointments such as Noscana and Acnon, repair creams such as Madeca Cream and PDRN creams, pain-relief patches, cold medicine and vitamins, according to 2026 Korean news reports.
Can I get a tax refund at a Korean pharmacy?
Yes, at pharmacies marked Tax Free. Spend 15,000 won or more on one receipt and show your passport. Not every pharmacy offers it, so ask before paying.
Do I need a prescription to buy medicine in a Korean pharmacy?
Not for over-the-counter medicines such as Noscana, Acnon, cold medicine and pain patches. Prescription-only drugs need a prescription from a Korean doctor.
Where can I buy medicine in Korea at night?
Convenience stores in Korea sell 13 basic medicines, including Tylenol 500 mg, cold medicine, digestion tablets and pain patches. For a pharmacy open late or on holidays, check pharm114.or.kr.