Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Corey Walker]

Hello folks:

I am in Canada and I take prescription medications for a genuine medical condition. One of the meds is a narcotic (Ritalin). I know that the South East Asian countries are really strict on narcotics because some people abuse them and use them as a drug. My question is this:

1. Does anybody know how many weeks/months worth of medication a person can take into Korea when accompanied with a doctor's letter. I would be working on an E2 Visa. I don't have a job yet, but am researching all countries.

2. How reliable and helpful are the pharmacies and doctors in South Korea? I imagine most people's experience would be with Seoul, but I'd also like to know experiences in more rural areas, so please post your area as part of your answer. Do pharmacists, doctors or nurses generally speak fluent or near fluent English? Has anybody had problems getting a medication in Korea that is comparable or identical to what they had in Canada or the USA? I'm not concerned about brand names, as long as the ingredients are the same.

Thank you for your valued assistance.

Corey Walker
Prince George, B.C.

[itchy]

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[Gord]

[mack the knife]

you have to go to a doctor first. you tell the doctor what you were taking back in canada and he will prescribe it for you. it's that simple. you can essentially write your own prescriptions.

as gord mentioned, most doctors speak a modicum of english, although generally it ain't good. it does in fact help to bring in a korean friend/coworker to explain your symptoms/condition.

you may not be able to find all medications here. i've stumped the chumps several times...also, many medications are only available in very low strength (e.g. xanax, valium).

[The Marchioness]

Hey Itchy: I don't know what hinterland of Korea you are located in, but in the little dump where I am all the pharmacists and doctors speak excellent English. Why???? Their textbooks are generally in English (sometimes Japanese). I have not yet met one who didn't - either here or in Ulsan.

Please don't feed misinformation to newbies; it's just not on.

The Marchioness

[schwa]

Doctors, dentists, pharmacists all have educational background in english but most have had little chance to speak it. Older professionals especially will be almost completely tongue-tied to the extent you think they dont know any, but they'll usually understand slow clear english & be able to speak a little, especially technical terms. When it comes to drugs, its often useful to write them down -- generic & brand names -- as korean & english pronunciation of the same word can be quite different.

A poster above spoke of being 'constantly sick' being normal for the first year -- simply not true. Happens to some, sure, but many others catch nothing more than the odd seasonal cold. Depends on your constitution & sensitivities.

[kangnamdragon]

You would need a prescription for Ritilin. Just go to a doctor and tell him/her you take it, then you'll get the prescription. Any doctor in Korea would know it. It is not true that you can get anything from a pharmacy without a prescription (at least not legally) since the law changed in 2000.

[kimcheeking]

[rudyflyer]

you might find drs here very hesitant to prescribe ritalin to adults here. Heard of several people with that problem. Drs here think that its a kids disorder and adults don't need it