Many people hesitate to visit a hospital when they are sick because they do not have health insurance or their residency status is uncertain. However, in Korea there are several pathways to free or low-cost medical care for migrants and refugees who do not have health insurance. Getting to know both the government-run medical support programs and the free clinics operated by civil-society organizations means you can plan ahead and know exactly where to go if you suddenly fall ill.

Finding a Free Clinic That Is Currently Open

The schedule, location, and available specialties at free clinics change frequently depending on which organization runs them. Rather than memorizing a single clinic’s details, the quickest approach is to look at a single place that gathers all currently operating clinics at once.

If you would rather get information by phone, you can call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 (interpretation available in 20 languages) and ask about free clinics or medical support organizations in your area.

Government Medical Support: the Medical Support Program for Foreign Workers and Others

This is a government-run program for people who qualify for neither National Health Insurance nor Medical Aid (기초수급, a means-tested public assistance program for low-income residents). It is the most reliable safety net when a sudden hospitalization or surgery results in a large medical bill.

Who is eligible

  • Foreign workers, their spouses, and their children under 18
  • Marriage migrants who have not yet obtained Korean nationality, and their children under 18
  • People who have applied for refugee recognition, and their children under 18
  • People experiencing homelessness

What does it cover

  • 90% of inpatient and surgical costs (you pay 10%)
  • 80% of hospital meal costs during admission (you pay 20%)
  • Up to 3 million won per single episode of care and up to 6 million won per year
  • Outpatient (clinic) visits are generally not covered, with two exceptions: prenatal checkups and outpatient visits for children under 18

Free Clinics Run by Civil-Society Organizations

Across Korea, medical professionals volunteer their time to run free clinics for migrant workers and refugees who do not have health insurance. Many of these clinics are open to everyone regardless of registration status. Here are some well-known examples.

  • Raphael Clinic (라파엘클리닉): Holds clinics every Sunday morning in Seoul. It covers multiple specialties including internal medicine, family medicine, ear-nose-throat, obstetrics and gynecology, and dentistry, and has been caring for migrant workers for more than 27 years.
  • WeFriends (한국이주민건강협회 희망의친구들): Runs regular free medical consultations and health screenings. See the WeFriends free clinic guide for details.
  • Seoul Migrant Women’s Counseling Center (서울이주여성상담센터): Provides free medical care specifically for migrant women.

Beyond these, free clinics organized through religious institutions, foreign worker support centers, and local public health centers (보건소) operate in many regions. Because schedules and locations change often, please check the Immigrant Medical Support Map or call 1345 before you go to confirm a clinic is currently running.

What to Bring to a Clinic

Most free clinics charge nothing, or only a very small amount. However, you may need to cover part of the cost for tests or medication yourself, so calling ahead to confirm is a good way to put your mind at ease before you go.

In an Emergency

If your life or someone else’s life is in danger, please call 119 right away without worrying about cost or residency status. Emergency rooms are required to treat everyone first, regardless of those factors. If you are unable to pay the emergency medical bill immediately, the Emergency Medical Cost Deferred Payment Program (응급의료비 대지급 제도) allows you to repay the amount in installments later. Ask the hospital’s billing office or social welfare team for more information.