There are two main types of tests used to check whether you have a COVID-19 infection: PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT). From 1 January 2024, the nationwide network of public health center screening clinics closed, and the testing system changed significantly. Now the process works like this: you visit a nearby local clinic or hospital, see a doctor first, and get tested if the doctor decides it is necessary. The places where you can get tested and the costs involved differ depending on the type of test, so please read through the information below carefully and choose the option that suits you best. Specific figures and deadlines can change at any time, so please confirm the latest information with 1345 (Immigration Contact Center, available 24 hours in multiple languages) or your nearest clinic, hospital, or public health center before proceeding.
Before proceeding, please confirm the current costs and eligibility criteria with 1345 or your local clinic, hospital, or public health center.
Types of Tests
1. PCR Test
A sample is collected from inside your nose or throat, and the virus’s genetic material is analysed directly in a laboratory. This method has the highest accuracy.
- Free test: If you fall under the “high-risk group free PCR” criteria described below, national health insurance (건강보험, Korea’s public health insurance system) covers the cost at eligible medical institutions — including clinics authorised to prescribe oral antiviral medication — so the test will be free or very low cost.
- Paid test: If you do not qualify for the free high-risk group test, you must pay out of pocket. The cost varies by institution, but PCR tests are typically around 10,000—30,000 won (approximately USD 7—22). Please call ahead to confirm the price before you visit.
Before proceeding, please confirm the current costs and eligibility criteria with 1345 or your local clinic or hospital.
2. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)
A sample is collected and results are available within 15—30 minutes. It is quicker and more convenient than a PCR test, but slightly less accurate.
- Professional-use RAT: Performed by a healthcare professional at a medical institution.
- Personal-use RAT (self-test kit): Purchased at a pharmacy or convenience store and done at home by yourself.
Who Can Get a Free PCR Test? (High-Risk Groups)
When the public health center screening clinics closed in January 2024, the previous priority free PCR system largely ended with them. Currently, health insurance coverage for PCR testing is available only for the high-risk groups listed below, at eligible general medical institutions. The specific criteria may change, so please confirm the latest information with 1345 or your medical institution before your visit.
| Group | Description |
|---|---|
| Oral antiviral treatment candidates | People aged 60 or older, or people aged 12 or older with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems |
| High-risk inpatients | Patients being admitted to or transferred within intensive care units, haematology/oncology wards, organ transplant wards, or haemodialysis units |
| High-risk emergency patients | Patients attending an emergency room whom a doctor judges to need COVID-19 testing |
| Residents of long-term care hospitals, psychiatric institutions, or care facilities | People living in these types of facilities |
| Carers/guardians of the above | Must bring relevant documents such as a proof of hospitalisation certificate |
Where Can You Get Tested?
PCR Tests
Public health center screening clinics closed on 1 January 2024. You now need to visit a local clinic or hospital (including those authorised to prescribe oral antiviral medication), see a doctor, and then get a PCR test if it is needed. Not every medical institution offers PCR testing, so please call ahead to check before you visit.
To find a nearby medical institution that offers PCR testing, use the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA, 건강보험심사평가원 — Korea’s national body that reviews insurance claims and maintains a public database of medical facilities) Hospital and Pharmacy Finder or call 1345 for guidance.
Rapid Antigen Tests
The free rapid antigen testing previously offered at public health center screening clinics has ended. You now have the following options:
| Where to test | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local clinic or hospital (test performed by a healthcare professional) | Paid (varies by institution) | A separate consultation fee may also apply |
| Pharmacy or convenience store (self-test kit purchase) | Cost of the kit | You perform the test yourself at home |
The cost of rapid antigen testing varies between medical institutions. Please contact the institution directly or call 1345 for guidance before your visit.
What If Your Rapid Antigen Test Is Positive?
Positive Result on a Professional-Use RAT
If you received a professional-use rapid antigen test — one performed by a healthcare professional at a clinic or hospital — and the result is positive, the doctor can treat you and issue a prescription without requiring an additional PCR test. If you belong to a high-risk group, the doctor can also prescribe oral antiviral medication.
- Who can be tested: People with a fever or respiratory symptoms, and people whose doctor judges that they need to be seen for a respiratory illness.
- To find a medical institution that offers respiratory illness consultations: HIRA Medical Institution Finder
Positive Result on a Personal-Use Self-Test Kit
If your self-test kit result is positive, it is recommended that you visit a nearby medical institution for a consultation and further testing (this will be at your own cost). A self-test kit result on its own is not accepted as an official confirmed diagnosis.
Useful Links
- HIRA Hospital and Pharmacy Finder (search for medical institutions offering PCR tests or respiratory illness consultations)
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) COVID-19 Information (latest outbreak data and official guidelines)
- Government24 (정부24 — the Korean government’s integrated online public services portal) COVID-19 Information (living support and policy guidance)
- COVID-19 enquiries: 1345 (24 hours, multilingual support available)
- Health enquiries: 129 (Ministry of Health and Welfare call center)