Do you know the Korean words for different parts of the body? What’s the Korean word for “pain”? How do you tell someone to call an ambulance, or explain that you’re pregnant or have high blood pressure? After this lesson you’ll be able to describe your symptoms in Korean, and know what to say in an emergency if necessary.
Resources for further reading:
Talking About Health in Korean
Before you leave, make sure your health insurance covers any illness or accident while abroad. You don’t need any vaccinations to enter South or North Korea, but it’s advisable not to drink tap water and always check if the milk is pasteurized.
If you have a medical emergency, go to the 응급실 (eungeupsil) "emergency room" and use one of these phrases to get some help immediately.
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
If the situation is not an emergency, choose a doctor’s office.
When you first visit a health professional, be it a doctor, dentist or pharmacist, you’ll need to know how to tell them what the problem is. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms:
That’s it for this lesson! I hope that you never need to use any of this vocabulary; however, it’s best to be prepared. Who knows, you may even be able to help a fellow traveler in case they fall ill.
Here are a few recommended Korean lessons to try next!
- Break the ice by talking about your hobbies in Korean.
- Fitting out an apartment in Korea? Know how to pronounce your household appliances in Korean.
- An important lesson on the structure and pronouncing Korean numbers.
안녕히 가세요! (Annyeonghi gaseyo!) "Goodbye!"
Sujung Lee: Rocket Korean