City Designates 13,000 Clinics and Pharmacies for Lunar New Year Care (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — As millions prepare to travel for the Lunar New Year holiday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that it will activate a 24-hour emergency medical system and designate more than 13,000 clinics and pharmacies to ensure residents have access to care during the extended break.
Seventy-two emergency facilities — including 31 regional and local emergency medical centers such as Seoul National University Hospital — will operate around the clock, as usual. The city aims to reduce overcrowding in emergency rooms by steering patients with minor ailments toward neighborhood clinics and pharmacies.
On average, 2,656 medical institutions — 1,220 clinics and 1,436 pharmacies — will remain open each day during the holiday period under the city’s “open clinics and pharmacies” program.
Two Seoul-style urgent care centers will operate daily from 9 a.m. to midnight to treat acute but noncritical conditions such as injuries and high fevers. Four specialized surgical hospitals will provide 24-hour emergency services throughout the holiday.
Pediatric services will also be reinforced. Eight designated “Safe Children’s Hospitals” and three pediatric emergency centers will operate 24 hours a day, while 28 outpatient facilities — including “Moonlight Children’s Hospitals” — will treat children with mild symptoms.
The city has established a 24-hour hotline among related institutions to prepare for emergencies involving high-risk pregnancies and newborns. Participating hospitals have secured reserve neonatal intensive care unit beds and placed specialists on standby for emergency deliveries.
To offset potential closures at private facilities, seven municipal hospitals will offer outpatient services for one or two days during the holiday, and 14 public health centers will remain open on the Lunar New Year’s Day itself.
Residents can purchase 13 types of over-the-counter medicines, including digestive aids and cold remedies, at 6,926 convenience stores licensed to sell essential drugs.
Information on operating medical facilities will be available through the city’s Lunar New Year information website, district government websites and mobile apps including “Wrist Doctor 9988” and the national emergency medical information platform, e-gen.
City officials said the goal is to ensure that even during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, access to timely medical care remains uninterrupted.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
