Korean pharmacies have become a regular stop on K-beauty shopping trips. Visitors go for two kinds of products that ordinary beauty stores do not carry in the same way: over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for scars and acne, which by law can only be sold in pharmacies, and pharmacy-sold cosmetics such as PDRN creams, which are cosmetics but are mainly stocked by pharmacies. The difference matters for how you choose, how you use the product and what you bring home.
Updated November 8, 2026. Based on reporting by The Korea Times (Oct 24, 2026) and The Korea Herald (Oct 26, 2026), including Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) spending data.
Why pharmacies are now part of the K-beauty route
KTO data reported by The Korea Times shows pharmacies made up 13.88% of foreign visitors’ medical-related spending in September 2026, or 31.8 billion won. In December 2025 that share was around 8.3%, so it rose by about 5.6 percentage points in nine months.
Pharmacists in Namdaemun Market and Myeong-dong describe the same pattern. One Namdaemun pharmacist told The Korea Times that foreign tourists now make up 40 to 50% of his sales, up sharply from when he opened two years ago. In Myeong-dong, some pharmacies have rearranged their shops to look like beauty stores, with popular products near the entrance and guides in English, Chinese and Japanese.
The KTO also linked part of the growth to visitors who buy skin-repair creams after cosmetic procedures at dermatology clinics. In May 2026, card spending at pharmacies jumped sharply in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong and in Haeundae, Busan, according to the same data cited by The Korea Herald.
OTC medicine, pharmacy cosmetic or supplement: know which one you are buying
Korean pharmacies sell three different kinds of products side by side, and they are regulated differently.
| Type | What it is | Examples named in reporting | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTC medicine | A drug that Korea’s Pharmaceutical Affairs Act allows only pharmacies to sell, without a prescription | Noscana Gel (scars) and Acnon Cream (acne), both by Dong-A Pharmaceutical | Ask the pharmacist how to use it, read the label and keep the box and leaflet |
| Pharmacy-sold cosmetic | A cosmetic, not a medicine, that is mainly stocked in pharmacies | PDRN skin-care creams; Madeca Cream, Easydew and Rejuvenex PDRN creams | Patch test first and treat it like any other skin-care product |
| Supplement or health product | Dietary supplements and everyday health items | Red ginseng, vitamins, pain relief patches | Check the ingredients and your home country’s import rules |
OTC medicines are still medicines. If you are pregnant, take other medication, have a skin condition under treatment, or plan to use a product on a child, ask the pharmacist before buying, and speak with your own doctor before using it at home.
What visitors from different countries ask for
A Myeong-dong pharmacist interviewed by The Korea Herald described clear differences by nationality. Japanese visitors often look for products for dark spots, brightening products and antiperspirants. Visitors from English-speaking and other Western countries lean toward anti-aging skin care rather than medicines. Acne treatments, pharmacy-exclusive skin care and pimple patches sell to visitors of every nationality, and Chinese-speaking customers also buy a broader range of medicines such as pain relief patches.
Social media lists drive much of this. Shoppers arrive with screenshots from Instagram, TikTok, X and Xiaohongshu, and some users have built English-language maps of Seoul pharmacies with opening hours and product ranges.
| Shopper | Often asks for (per pharmacist interview) |
|---|---|
| Japan | Dark-spot and brightening products, antiperspirants |
| English-speaking and Western countries | Anti-aging skin care |
| Chinese-speaking visitors | Skin care plus a wider range of medicines, including pain relief patches |
| All nationalities | Acne treatments, pimple patches, pharmacy-exclusive skin care |
Where to go and how to shop
The reporting points to Namdaemun Market and Myeong-dong in Seoul as the busiest areas, with pharmacy spending also rising in Seongsu-dong and Haeundae in Busan. Some Myeong-dong pharmacies have multilingual staff, separate checkout counters for foreign shoppers and tax refund service.
- Make your list with product names in Korean as well as English. Pharmacists in the reporting compared items by reading the Korean names on shoppers’ phones.
- Show the list and say what the product is for. The pharmacist may suggest an equivalent if the exact brand is out of stock.
- Ask which items are medicines and which are cosmetics. Keep medicines in their original boxes.
- Ask about tax refund before paying if you are buying several items, since not every pharmacy offers it.
- Check your home country’s rules for bringing back medicines, especially creams with active drug ingredients.
The K-Pharm app
On October 14, 2026, Seoul healthcare IT company Cresoty launched K-Pharm with the Korea Tourism Organization. According to The Korea Herald, the app helps foreign tourists find pharmacies, use discount coupons and access tax refund services. It is a practical starting point if you want to know which pharmacies near you are set up for foreign shoppers.
Common mistakes
- Treating every pharmacy product as a cosmetic. Some are regulated medicines.
- Buying a medicine only because it trended online without asking how to use it.
- Throwing away the box and leaflet before you fly home.
- Expecting every pharmacy to offer tax refund or English help.
FAQ
Can tourists buy medicine at Korean pharmacies without a prescription?
Yes, for products classified as over-the-counter. Prescription drugs still need a prescription.
Are PDRN creams medicines?
No. Pharmacy-sold PDRN skin-care products are cosmetics, according to the reporting.
Which areas are busiest?
Myeong-dong and Namdaemun Market in Seoul are named most often, and spending is also rising in Seongsu-dong and Haeundae.
Do pharmacies offer tax refunds?
Some do. Ask before paying, or check the K-Pharm app.
Should I use a pharmacy product for an ongoing skin problem?
For a condition that keeps coming back, see a doctor rather than relying on products bought on a trip.