Clinic Phrasebook
These are the phrases that come up at a skin clinic, in polite Korean, with a rough pronunciation you can read aloud. You do not need to memorise any of it — showing the Hangul column on your phone works just as well.
How to use this page
Three columns: English, Korean in Hangul, and rough pronunciation. Read the third column as if it were English, with even stress and no syllable emphasised.
Syllables are short and even, and the hyphens mark where each one ends. A phrase ending in -yo or -ni-da is polite, which is what you want in a clinic.
Where you see three dots, substitute your own word.
Booking and messaging ahead
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I would like to make an appointment. | 예약하고 싶습니다. | ye-yak-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da |
| Is a consultation in English possible? | 영어로 상담이 가능한가요? | yeong-eo-ro sang-da-mi ga-neung-han-ga-yo |
| Who performs the treatment? | 시술은 누가 하시나요? | si-su-reun nu-ga ha-si-na-yo |
| Can the consultation and the treatment be on the same day? | 상담과 시술을 같은 날에 할 수 있나요? | sang-dam-gwa si-su-reul ga-teun na-re hal su in-na-yo |
At reception
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I have an appointment at three o’clock. | 세 시에 예약했습니다. | se si-e ye-yak-haet-seum-ni-da |
| My name is … | 제 이름은 …입니다. | je i-reu-meun … im-ni-da |
| Here is my passport. | 여권 여기 있습니다. | yeo-gwon yeo-gi it-seum-ni-da |
| Is this form available in English? | 이 서류 영어로 된 것이 있나요? | i seo-ryu yeong-eo-ro doen geo-si in-na-yo |
| Could you help me fill this in? | 작성하는 것을 도와주실 수 있나요? | jak-seong-ha-neun geo-seul do-wa-ju-sil su in-na-yo |
In the consultation
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| This area is what concerns me most. | 이 부분이 가장 신경 쓰입니다. | i bu-bu-ni ga-jang sin-gyeong sseu-im-ni-da |
| I would prefer a natural result. | 자연스러운 결과를 원합니다. | ja-yeon-seu-reo-un gyeol-gwa-reul won-ham-ni-da |
| Which product or device will be used? | 어떤 제품이나 장비를 사용하시나요? | eo-tteon je-pu-mi-na jang-bi-reul sa-yong-ha-si-na-yo |
| Please write down the name of the product. | 제품 이름을 적어 주세요. | je-pum i-reu-meul jeo-geo ju-se-yo |
| What is included in this programme? | 이 프로그램에는 무엇이 포함되나요? | i peu-ro-geu-rae-me-neun mu-eo-si po-ham-doe-na-yo |
| I am taking this medication. | 이 약을 복용하고 있습니다. | i ya-geul bo-gyong-ha-go it-seum-ni-da |
| I have an allergy. | 알레르기가 있습니다. | al-le-reu-gi-ga it-seum-ni-da |
| Could you explain it in English? | 영어로 설명해 주실 수 있나요? | yeong-eo-ro seol-myeong-hae ju-sil su in-na-yo |
| Could you explain that again, slowly? | 조금만 더 천천히 다시 설명해 주세요. | jo-geum-man deo cheon-cheon-hi da-si seol-myeong-hae ju-se-yo |
| Could I have the price in writing first? | 가격을 먼저 서면으로 받을 수 있을까요? | ga-gyeo-geul meon-jeo seo-myeo-neu-ro ba-deul su i-sseul-kka-yo |
| I would like to think about it a little longer. | 조금 더 생각해 보고 싶습니다. | jo-geum deo saeng-ga-kae bo-go sip-seum-ni-da |
Forms and consent
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I do not understand this part. | 이 부분을 이해하지 못했습니다. | i bu-bu-neul i-hae-ha-ji mo-taet-seum-ni-da |
| Please explain it before I sign. | 서명하기 전에 설명해 주세요. | seo-myeong-ha-gi jeo-ne seol-myeong-hae ju-se-yo |
| I do not agree to my photographs being used in advertising. | 사진을 광고에 사용하는 것은 동의하지 않습니다. | sa-ji-neul gwang-go-e sa-yong-ha-neun geo-seun dong-ui-ha-ji an-seum-ni-da |
| May I have a copy of this? | 사본을 받을 수 있을까요? | sa-bo-neul ba-deul su i-sseul-kka-yo |
During treatment
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| It hurts. | 아파요. | a-pa-yo |
| Please stop for a moment. | 잠시만 멈춰 주세요. | jam-si-man meom-chwo ju-se-yo |
| I feel dizzy. | 어지러워요. | eo-ji-reo-wo-yo |
| Is this normal? | 이건 정상인가요? | i-geon jeong-sang-in-ga-yo |
Payment and records
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Can I pay by card? | 카드로 결제할 수 있나요? | ka-deu-ro gyeol-je-hal su in-na-yo |
| Could I have an itemised receipt? | 항목별로 나온 영수증을 받을 수 있을까요? | hang-mok-byeol-lo na-on yeong-su-jeung-eul ba-deul su i-sseul-kka-yo |
| I need a treatment record in English. | 영문으로 된 진료 기록이 필요합니다. | yeong-mu-neu-ro doen jin-ryo gi-ro-gi pi-ryo-ham-ni-da |
Aftercare and follow-up
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Please write the instructions down in English. | 주의사항을 영어로 적어 주세요. | ju-ui-sa-hang-eul yeong-eo-ro jeo-geo ju-se-yo |
| What should I avoid? | 무엇을 피해야 하나요? | mu-eo-seul pi-hae-ya ha-na-yo |
| Can I come back before I leave Korea? | 귀국 전에 다시 방문할 수 있을까요? | gwi-guk jeo-ne da-si bang-mun-hal su i-sseul-kka-yo |
| If there is a problem, where should I contact you? | 문제가 생기면 어디로 연락하면 되나요? | mun-je-ga saeng-gi-myeon eo-di-ro yeol-la-ka-myeon doe-na-yo |
Words you will hear
| Korean | Pronunciation | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 상담 | sang-dam | Consultation |
| 시술 | si-sul | A non-surgical procedure |
| 관리 | gwan-ri | In-clinic skin care, a facial-type session |
| 예약 | ye-yak | Booking, appointment |
| 원장님 | won-jang-nim | The doctor who runs the clinic |
| 실장님 | sil-jang-nim | The coordinator or manager |
| 마취 크림 | ma-chwi keu-rim | Numbing cream |
| 부기 | bu-gi | Swelling |
| 멍 | meong | Bruising |
| 동의서 | dong-ui-seo | Consent form |
The three words worth recognising by sight are 상담, 시술 and 동의서 — consultation, procedure and consent form. For the marketing names on price lists, see the treatment name glossary.
Plan it with the trip planner
Save this page offline before you travel, so it works in a lift or a basement clinic with no signal. Then use the trip planner to set your appointment day and leave room for a follow-up before your flight home.
FAQ
Will I actually need Korean at a clinic in Myeongdong?
Often not, because clinics in central Seoul that see international visitors usually have someone who speaks English. The phrases are for the gaps — a busy front desk, a form, or a moment during treatment when you want to be understood immediately.
Is it better to speak or to show the phone?
Showing the Hangul is more reliable, and nobody will think less of you for it. Reading the pronunciation column aloud also works, and staff are usually quick to meet you halfway.
Why is everything so formal?
The phrases here use polite endings, which is what an adult stranger uses in a clinic or a shop in Korea. Casual Korean picked up from television can sound abrupt in this setting, so the polite form is the safer default.
Can I rely on a translation app instead?
For scheduling and small talk, yes. For consent, risks or aftercare, ask for a human explanation in English rather than trusting an app, and see the consent forms page for why.