A surprising new hotspot is rising in Korea’s tourism scene: pharmacies. Once seen only as places to fill prescriptions, Korean pharmacies are now popular with foreign visitors searching for unique skincare, acne treatments, and healing creams that can’t be found in regular beauty shops.
According to recent reports, foreign spending at pharmacies has grown nearly five-fold since 2020, with pharmacies now accounting for 59% of all foreign medical consumption in Korea. Travel platform Creatrip even launched a special “pharmacy” tab with multilingual guides and pharmacist consultations, making it easier for tourists to explore this new K-beauty frontier.
Korean pharmacies were once small, family-run shops with little English, serving mostly locals. But with the global rise of K-beauty, tourists discovered pharmacy-only creams and treatments, turning these humble stores into must-visit spots. Despite language barriers, the mix of trusted pharmacists, affordable products, and “hidden gem” appeal transformed pharmacies into unexpected cultural attractions.
Key Vocabulary (핵심 어휘):
- 약국 (pharmacy) yakguk
- 재생 (healing/regeneration) jaesaeng
- 처방 (prescription) cheobang
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Hashtags (해시태그): #케이파머시 #KoreaGlowUp
