2026.06.25 · Views 3,989
Hi everyone, I'm Yao. I'm considering going to Seoul this year to consult about some cosmetic procedures, but I'm a little worried about the language barrier. My English is okay, but I don't understand medical terminology very well, and I'm afraid I won't understand the doctor's advice. Has anyone consulted before? Do all clinics have Chinese-speaking staff or translation services? Or should I hire a translator to accompany me?
I've heard that many clinics in Seoul have international patients, but I don't know how common Chinese is. Has anyone managed to get by using only English? Or are Chinese translators available in many places? I'd like to understand the general situation so I can prepare in advance. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
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Hi Yao! From my experience during consultations in Seoul, most places do have staff who can speak English, but medical terms can be a bit tricky haha. My advice is to prepare a list of your questions in English beforehand and ask them to explain them in simpler terms—they're usually very patient with your questions! I haven't seen many places with Mandarin support, so it might be worth preparing a translator or translation app if you're more comfortable that way.
I've been to Seoul for a traditional checkup before and the English worked fine, but it was better to contact the agent beforehand. Many consultation rooms use a whole hand-drawn picture with key words in English and other languages written on it!