How South Korea Makes Pregnancy Tests as Easy as Buying Water—Even at Midnight

K-Culture & Travel | 2025-12-24 19:46:28
[mediK / HEALTH IN NEWS] In New York or London, picking up a pregnancy test often means heading to a pharmacy and asking discreetly at the counter. In South Korea, it's a different story: you can grab one at a 24-hour convenience store at 2 a.m., as casually as buying bottled water.

This remarkable accessibility reflects the country's universal national health insurance system and a deeply ingrained culture of preventive healthcare. Korean women typically receive structured prenatal care from the earliest stages of pregnancy, and taking a home test is simply viewed as a natural first step in that process.

Useful Medical Insights

Pregnancy tests sold in Korean pharmacies and convenience stores detect levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone, in urine. When used after a missed period, they boast accuracy rates over 99 percent. False positives—indicating pregnancy when there is none—are rare, though testing too early can lead to false negatives.

At a clinic, a quantitative blood test (typically costing ₩30,000–50,000, or about $23–38) provides precise hCG levels, allowing doctors to estimate gestational age and offer professional counseling.
A Practical Guide for Travelers in South Korea

1. 24-Hour Convenience Stores (Highly Recommended)

Location: Within a five-minute walk almost anywhere.

Price: Around ₩5,000 ($4).

How to find one: Say "Pregnancy test" or show staff a photo of "임신 테스트기" on your phone.

Tip: Chains like CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven all stock them. Self-checkout kiosks are widely available.

To maximize accuracy, use first-morning urine and consider retesting if needed—a universal best practice. (Image courtesy of Clip Art Korea.)
To maximize accuracy, use first-morning urine and consider retesting if needed—a universal best practice. (Image courtesy of Clip Art Korea.)


2. Pharmacies

Price: ₩4,000–5,000 ($3–4).

Advantage: Pharmacists can explain usage if needed.

Language tip: Say "임신 테스트기 주세요" (Imshin testeugi juseyo) or use a translation app.

3. Daiso

Price: ₩3,000–5,000 ($2–4).

Location: Major tourist areas like Myeongdong (명동), Hongdae (홍대), and Gangnam Station (강남역) have stores.

Advantage: Often the cheapest option, with multi-packs useful for retesting.

Note: Larger Daiso branches are best; ask staff at the entrance if you can't spot them.

Traveler tip: Daiso accepts cash and cards, and it's a popular spot for souvenirs, so it feels low-pressure.

4. Olive Young

Price: ₩5,000–10,000 ($4–8).

Advantage: Stores in Myeongdong and Gangnam often have English-speaking staff.

Recommended brands: Good News Early Check, OnePo, and Surearly.

Traveler Pro Tips

Self-checkout kiosks aren't intimidating—most support English. Tap the "English" button, scan the barcode, and pay by card.

For privacy, buy alongside snacks, drinks, or cosmetics, or use self-checkout. South Korea places a high value on personal privacy.

Results are straightforward: two lines (||) mean positive; one line (|) means negative. Most kits include English instructions.

Even small local clinics in Korea can perform pregnancy tests, though wait times vary—call ahead if possible. (Image courtesy of Clip Art Korea.)
Even small local clinics in Korea can perform pregnancy tests, though wait times vary—call ahead if possible. (Image courtesy of Clip Art Korea.)


If You Need a Clinic Visit

Finding an English-Friendly OB-GYN

Search Google Maps for "OB-GYN English" or "산부인과 영어."

Areas like Gangnam (강남), Itaewon (이태원), and Myeongdong (명동) have foreigner-friendly options.

Ask your hotel concierge for recommendations.

What to Bring

Passport (for ID).

Note with your last menstrual period start date.

Credit card (more convenient than cash).

Typical Flow: Registration → basic measurements → doctor consultation → testing → results (30–60 minutes).

Oh Ha Eun medi·K TEAM press@themedik.kr
Copyright © 2020 mediK. All rights reserved.

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