49 Pharmacies in Myeongdong! The K-Pharmacy Tour Where Foreign Spending Jumped 142%—Scar Gels, PDRN and Vitamins, Tax-Free [Things Worth Doing in Korea #6]

Along the streets of Myeongdong, pharmacies keep opening between the cosmetics shops—49 of them between Euljiro 1-ga and Myeongdong stations, from two-floor flagships to shops of ten square meters, with price boards in English, Chinese and Japanese out front. On weekday afternoons and weekends, foreigners queue.

The numbers explain it. According to Hana Institute of Finance, foreign spending at Korean pharmacies hit 141.4 billion won in 2025, up 142.2 percent on the year. In May 2026 pharmacies posted the fastest growth of any major category at 206.1 percent—the same month foreign card spending in Korea first topped 2 trillion won. Visitors from Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand and Southeast Asia come for the skin products they saw in short videos and leave with cold medicine, vitamins and patches as well.

“So what do they sell, at what price, and how do I choose?” This guide covers exactly that, along with the pharmacist’s role, how tax refunds work and the traps to avoid. Let’s get into it.

Why Did Pharmacies Become a Tourist Stop? The Place Foreigners Line Up for After the Cosmetics Shops

✔ Three reasons
First, Seoul is a dermatology city. Of the 2.01 million foreign patients who visited Korea in 2025, about 63 percent went to dermatology, and buying regenerative creams and scar gels at a pharmacy afterward became part of the routine. Second, short videos: “K-pharmacy shopping” clips spread on social media, and many customers arrive with a list already made. Third, the pharmacist explains things face to face—not just ringing up sales but advising directly on medicines and supplements.

The Korean Pharmaceutical Association has voiced concern about “consuming medicines like consumer goods without medical advice.” Which is exactly why it pays to ask the pharmacist about use before you buy—and in Myeongdong, many will answer in English or Japanese.

What foreigners buy at Myeongdong pharmacies — price guide (2026)

Category	Typical products	Price guide	Notes
Scars and acne	Madecassol ointment, Noscarna gel, Fucidin	5,000–15,000 won	Over-the-counter. Ask the pharmacist about use
Skin regeneration and beauty	PDRN creams, Centellian24 Madeca Cream, EGF creams	15,000–40,000 won	Popular as aftercare after dermatology procedures
Supplements	Korea Eundan vitamin C, lutein, omega-3, probiotics	10,000–40,000 won	Large bottles are the standard souvenir
Everyday medicines	Festal (digestion), Pancol (colds), EZN6 (pain relief)	2,000–8,000 won	Small boxes, light
Patches and muscle pain	Ketotop, Jeil Cool Pap	5,000–15,000 won	For the night after a long walking day

✔ This one comes first, in order. Skim “Buying Medicine in Korea” and the rest of this page lands better.

It Comes Down to Four Groups! What to Buy—Scar Gels, PDRN, Vitamins, Patches

✔ Think in four categories and you won’t get lost
First, scars and acne: Dongkook’s Madecassol ointment, Noscarna gel and Fucidin are the staples at 5,000–15,000 won. Second, skin regeneration and beauty: creams with PDRN, a compound said to derive from salmon DNA, Centellian24’s Madeca Cream and EGF creams at 15,000–40,000 won—the things people buy on the way out of a dermatology clinic.

Third, supplements: Korea Eundan’s high-dose vitamin C, lutein, omega-3, probiotics and Insadol, the well-known gum-health tablet, in big bottles that have become the standard souvenir. Fourth, everyday medicines and patches: Festal for digestion, Pancol for colds, EZN6 for pain and Ketotop patches—small, light and ready for the evening after a long day on foot.

One caution. Prescription drugs such as hydroquinone or isotretinoin cannot be bought at a pharmacy without a Korean doctor’s prescription. What’s on the shelves is over-the-counter medicine and supplements, which is why the “strong stuff” from the videos isn’t there.

First Time, Myeongdong; After a Clinic, Gangnam! Where to Buy—the 49 in Myeongdong, Plus Hongdae and Seongsu

✔ They cluster along Myeongdong-gil and Myeongdong 8-gil
Myeongdong’s pharmacies sit between exits 5 and 6 of Euljiro 1-ga Station and exits 6 and 7 of Myeongdong Station. A July 2026 survey by Yakup News counted 49 in that stretch. Going by Google ratings, four stand out, all with English, Chinese and Japanese on their signs: Myeongdong Ready Young Pharmacy (5.0, 2,597 reviews), Myeongdong The Seoul Drugstore (4.9, 281), Myeongdong K Pharmacy (5.0, 130) and Myeongdong Pure Pharmacy (4.8, 158), checked September 4, 2026. The big shops work like cosmetics stores—you browse the shelves yourself—combining warehouse-style displays with beauty and supplement sections.

Outside Myeongdong, foreign pharmacy transactions run highest in Hongdae, Gangnam and Seongsu, in that order, with large shops around exit 9 of Hongik University Station and in the Gangnam Station underground arcade. Choose a shop with price boards in English, Chinese and Japanese and a Tax Free sign, and you have both the refund and the explanation covered.

Pharmacy Goes Last! How to Buy—Tax Refund, Talking to the Pharmacist, the Order of Stops

For the tax refund, spend 15,000 won or more in one purchase at a pharmacy with a Tax Free sign, show your passport, and the refund is applied on the spot. Both over-the-counter medicines and supplements qualify (details in the tax refund guide). Doing the whole haul in one shop means one refund form.

✔ Give the pharmacist a short symptom or purpose
“For scars,” “for acne marks,” “after a procedure,” “my legs swell on flights”—that’s all it takes. They’ll tell you how to use it and what not to combine it with. If you take prescription medication at home, showing the name keeps things safe.

Order your stops with the cosmetics shops and any clinic first and the pharmacy last. Most Myeongdong pharmacies stay open until 21:00–22:00, so your bags only get heavy at the final stop. Myeongdong at night is crowded with street stalls, so allow about ten minutes for the refund paperwork. List in hand, head for Myeongdong-gil!

On the map — recommended places and Google ratings

Ratings and review counts were checked on Google Maps on September 4, 2026. They change, so tap through for the latest before you go.

• Myeongdong Ready Young Pharmacy — Google ★5.0 (2,597 reviews)
• Myeongdong The Seoul Drugstore — Google ★4.9 (281 reviews)
• Myeongdong K Pharmacy — Google ★5.0 (130 reviews)
• Myeongdong Pure Pharmacy — Google ★4.8 (158 reviews)

FAQ

Do they speak English or Japanese?

Most large Myeongdong pharmacies post prices in English, Chinese and Japanese and have native-speaking staff. Give a short symptom or purpose and the pharmacist will explain how to use the product.

Can I buy prescription drugs?

No. Prescription medicines such as hydroquinone or isotretinoin require a Korean doctor’s prescription. The shelves carry over-the-counter medicines and supplements.

Can I get a tax refund?

Yes. Spend 15,000 won or more in one purchase at a pharmacy with a Tax Free sign and show your passport for an instant in-store refund. Medicines and supplements both qualify.

How late are they open?

Most Myeongdong pharmacies stay open until 21:00–22:00. Hours may be shorter on Sundays and holidays, so check the notice at the door.

Can I take these home?

Over-the-counter medicines and supplements for personal use are allowed into most countries, but ingredient and quantity limits differ. Check your own customs rules before you fly.