🔹 What This Guide Covers

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In Korea, many common symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines available at pharmacies without a prescription.

In this guide, we’ll introduce basic everyday medicines you can easily get without a doctor’s visit, along with popular skin treatments commonly used in Korea (such as acne and skin care ointments).

These are items that many Koreans regularly keep on hand, so knowing them in advance can be very helpful when you need something quickly.

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✅ Pain Relievers (진통제 / 해열제)

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Pain relievers are one of the most commonly used medicines at home.

They are used to reduce:

• Headaches
• Fever
• Muscle pain
• General body aches

There are two main types:

• Acetaminophen-based (for pain & fever)
• NSAIDs (reduce inflammation as well)

✔️ Examples

• Tylenol (타이레놀)
• Gevorin / Penza (게보린 / 펜잘)

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👉 If you often get headaches or live in barracks,
keeping a small pack is highly recommended.

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✅ Cold Medicine (감기약)

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Cold symptoms in Korea are often treated with combination medicines that cover multiple symptoms at once.

These can help with:

• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Headache
• Body aches

✔️ Examples

• Panpyrin (판피린)
• Pancol (판콜)

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👉 If you tend to get specific symptoms (like sore throat only),
you can also ask for targeted medicine instead of combo meds.

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💡 Tip
At early stages of a cold, products like throat sprays (e.g., Betadine-type sprays) are often used for prevention.

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✅ Digestive Medicine (소화제)

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Digestive problems are very common, especially after:

• Eating too quickly
• Overeating
• Eating greasy or unfamiliar food

These medicines help:

• Improve digestion
• Activate stomach movement

✔️ Examples

• Bayer / Festal (베아제 / 훼스탈)
• Trimebutine-based meds (트리메부틴 계열)

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👉 If you feel bloated or uncomfortable after meals,
these can quickly relieve symptoms.

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✅ Anti-Diarrheal Medicine (지사제)

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Diarrhea can be caused by:

• Food poisoning
• Allergies
• Spicy or oily food

Anti-diarrheal medicine works by:

• Reducing intestinal movement
• Helping your body stabilize digestion

✔️ Examples

• Smecta (스멕타)
• Stoper / Loperamide-type (스토퍼 / 로페라마이드 계열)

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👉 These are useful to keep on hand, especially when traveling or eating out often.

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✅ Allergy Medicines (알레르기 약 / 항히스타민제)

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Allergy medicines are commonly used to relieve symptoms caused by dust, pollen, or seasonal changes.

They are used to reduce:

• Runnynose
• Sneezing
• Itchy eyes
• Skinreactions

These medicines are usually antihistamines, which help control the body’s allergic response.

✔️ Examples

• Zyrtec(지르텍)
• Claritin(클라리틴)

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👉 If you often experience allergies or live in environments with dust or seasonal changes,
keeping one of these on hand is highly recommended.

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✅ Skin & Topical Treatments (연고 / 피부약)

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Korean pharmacies also carry many effective topical treatments for skin issues.

✔️ Examples

• D-Panthenol Ointment (디판테놀 연고)
  → Strengthens skin barrier, good for sensitive or damaged skin
• Acne Cream (애크논 크림)
  → Helps reduce inflammation and calm acne
• Clearteen (클리어틴)
  → Removes dead skin and helps control sebum (BHA-based)
• Esloban Ointment (에스로반)
  → Antibiotic ointment for infections (use short-term only)
• Noscarna Gel (노스카나 겔)
  → Used for acne scars and wound marks
• Madecassol Gel (마데카솔 겔)
  → Helps skin recovery and soothing

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👉 These are widely recommended by pharmacists depending on your skin condition.

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✅ Useful Everyday Items You Can Get at Korean Pharmacies

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Beyond basic medications, Korean pharmacies carry a few surprisingly useful everyday items that are worth knowing about.

These aren’t “medicine,” but they can be extremely helpful in day-to-day situations.

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🍬 Glucose Candy (포도당 캔디)

Quick sugar boost when you feel:

• Lightheaded
• Low energy
• Slightly dizzy

This is basically fast-absorbing sugar, commonly used for mild hypoglycemia.

Useful if you:

• Skip meals
• Feel weak during long days
• Need a quick energy fix

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🧴 Alcohol Swabs (알콜 스왑)

Individually packaged disinfecting wipes

• Clean small cuts
• Sanitize hands in a pinch
• Wipe surfaces (phone, etc.)

Cheap, portable, and extremely practical
→ Good to keep a few in your bag

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💧 Sterile Saline Solution (멸균 생리식염수)

Simple but very versatile

• Clean wounds
• Rinse eyes (dust, irritation)
• Nasal rinse (dry air, congestion)

Unlike tap water, this is sterile and safe for sensitive areas

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💊 Motion Sickness Patches (멀미 패치)

• Stick behind your ear
• Works for long bus rides, boats, etc.

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