Okay, let’s be honest from the start. Since my Korean level is quite high (ahem ahem, yes, I’m flexing 😏), I haven’t really gone out of my way to look for "foreigner-friendly" places. But let’s be real—labeling something as "foreigner-friendly" is often just a marketing strategy. You don’t need to be fluent in Korean, and the place you visit doesn’t need to be fluent in English for communication to work. The real key is empathy.
If the staff genuinely try to help and don’t treat you like an inconvenience, that’s what truly makes a place comfortable for foreigners. I’m not talking about general rudeness—anyone can be rude, and that’s on them. But when employees see a foreigner and immediately think, “Ugh, too much work,” that’s when it’s time to walk away.
With that in mind, let me introduce some places where I felt completely at ease—even as someone who visibly looks foreign in Korea. People often assume I can’t speak Korean and try to communicate in English. Sometimes their English is… well, questionable, so I kindly suggest switching to Korean. But regardless of language barriers, I truly appreciate the effort they put in to help beyond just words!
🏥 Boramae Hospital
This is a public hospital near my university, and honestly, navigating a hospital without knowing Korean can be overwhelming. The system here is quite different from my home country, and I was completely lost at first.
Luckily, the hospital has helpers who assist elderly patients, and they ended up helping me too! They didn’t even need to speak—one just took my phone and handled everything for me, from registration to appointment scheduling. It was such a relief.
Beyond the employees, even other patients were kind. Once, when I was looking for a seat, a man approached me and asked, "Can I help you?" in English, assuming I was lost and confused. I politely declined, but I truly appreciated the gesture because I know how rare it is for strangers to offer help to foreigners.
The doctors were also incredibly kind. Even though I asked to keep the conversation in Korean, one of them made an effort to explain my condition in English—because, let’s be honest, medical terms in Korean are no joke 😭.
After finishing at the hospital, I went to the pharmacy right across the street, where the ajummas there also tried speaking English to help me—it was adorable!
And as a hospital expert since age six (chronic illness gang, anyone? 🙃), I can confidently say that Korean hospitals are top-tier. No long queues, no frustrating delays—everything runs smoothly within the system! However, if you're not in Seoul, I recommend finding a public hospital near you. I personally made my appointment through my university’s medical service, so if your school offers a similar service, definitely use it! Or even just checking with your international office could be super helpful if you ever need medical assistance.
👓 SNU Cheongan Eye Clinic (SNU 청안과의원)
I usually rely on the on-campus medical service, but one day, a sudden eye pain forced me to find an optician. Two foreign students recommended this clinic, and I’m so glad they did!
It’s located near SNU Station, and you can simply walk in without an appointment. The prices seemed reasonable (I think? 🤔). I’ve also heard that the doctors speak English, and from my experience, the staff guided me in English with no issues.
