Who this page is for
This page is for people who want an English-speaking gynecologist: Seoul residents such as expatriates, students and workers on assignment, visitors on a short stay, and patients from abroad who are weighing a trip for gynecologic surgery and want to know how communication works first.
It is not for pregnancy care. Obstetric care, meaning pregnancy care and delivery, is not provided at the clinic. Routine gynecology for foreign patients, such as check-ups and contraception, is covered separately.
If you are planning a trip, here is how to book from abroad. If you already live in Seoul, message us on WhatsApp or by email to arrange a time.
Who you will talk to
All three doctors are board-certified specialists in obstetrics and gynecology. Two of the clinic's three OB-GYN specialists are women. Consultations are available in English. If you would rather see a woman for a first examination, tell us when you book. OB-GYN stands for obstetrician-gynecologist, and many Americans use OB-GYN and gynecologist for the same doctor.
What makes a gynecologist in Seoul foreigner-friendly
A clinic that lists English on its website can mean very different things. Before you book with any English-speaking gynecologist Seoul has to offer, ask four questions. Will the doctor speak English with you during the consultation, or only the front desk? Are consent forms and written instructions in English? Can you get your records and receipts in English afterward? How do you reach the clinic from abroad, and in what language does it reply? The sections below answer each one for Podo.
What foreigners see us for
Gangnam Podo Women's Clinic is a women's clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, focused on gynecologic surgery and pelvic floor care. Foreigners living in Seoul come to us for pelvic floor problems such as leaking urine or a bulge, and for gynecologic surgery.
General gynecology care for foreign patients covers check-ups, STI testing, contraception counseling including IUDs, menopause care and irregular periods. Obstetric care, meaning pregnancy care and delivery, is not provided.
Patients traveling from abroad also come for labiaplasty, for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery, and for a second opinion before surgery at home. Each has its own page with the plan, the recovery and what it costs.
How much does a gynecologist consultation cost in Korea?
There is no single price. In Korea the fee for a gynecology visit depends on three things. The first is whether you are enrolled in National Health Insurance; if you are not, the visit is self-pay. The second is what is done: a conversation and examination alone, or a visit that adds an ultrasound, a Pap test, an HPV test or an STI panel. The third is paperwork, because a medical certificate or other document is a separate item in Korea's list of non-covered charges.
Korea publishes non-covered prices clinic by clinic. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) release them on the HIRA website and in the Health e-Eum app.
At Podo, fees follow the clinic's published fee list, and we tell you the cost before any test is done. Ask for the cost of your visit in your first message. For surgery, the written estimate states the total before anything is booked.
Can foreigners go to a gynecologist in Korea without insurance?
Yes. You can be seen without Korean insurance and pay the fee yourself. Korea's National Health Insurance enrolls foreigners who work for an insured employer, and foreigners who have stayed in Korea for more than six months are generally required to join. A visitor on a short trip normally has no Korean coverage, so the visit is self-pay.
Pay on the day, then claim the cost from your own insurer if your policy covers it. Payment can be made by international credit card. Whether a procedure is reimbursed depends on your policy; we provide documentation, not coverage decisions. Travel insurance often covers unexpected illness or injury and may exclude routine care such as check-ups, so read your policy's wording before you rely on it.
What to expect at a first visit
A first gynecology visit usually begins with a conversation. The doctor asks about your symptoms, your menstrual cycle, previous pregnancies and surgery, and your medications and allergies. Depending on the reason for your visit, an examination, an ultrasound or tests may follow. You can ask questions at any point, and you can say if you want to pause or stop an examination.
Bring a list of your medications, your insurance details and any earlier test results. The following can be done on the day of your visit: an STI panel, Gram stain, ThinPrep Pap test, HPV test, TeleCervicogram (digital imaging of the cervix), transvaginal ultrasound with Doppler, blood tumor markers and blood chemistry. Previous results from abroad are reviewed. Note the first day of your last period. At the end of the visit you should leave with the findings explained and written instructions in English.
Why it matters to be understood
A gynecology visit depends on details: your cycle, previous pregnancies and surgery, medications, what hurts and when. Consent for any procedure has to be informed. We take the history in English, explain findings in English and give you written instructions you can follow after you leave. If you prefer, bring a friend or partner into the consultation.
Before you arrive
Message us on WhatsApp or by email, or call us, with what you are considering and when you could travel. You can reach us in English on WhatsApp during clinic hours. We reply in English during clinic hours, Monday to Saturday.
At the clinic
Forms, consent documents and pre-operative instructions are provided in English. Appointments are scheduled so that patients do not wait with other patients. After surgery, nurse instructions and the 24-hour line are in English.
Documents in English
Medical records and receipts are issued in English on request. We prepare the documents international insurers typically require: an itemized English receipt, a medical certificate, procedure codes and a completed claim form. Operative notes can be summarized in English for your doctor at home.
Hours and location
Open Monday to Saturday; closed Sundays and public holidays. Evening appointments are available on weekdays. The clinic is on the second floor of a building on Gangnam-daero, near Gangnam Station. The address is 2F, 428 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. For directions from Incheon Airport, see getting here.
Questions
Do I need an appointment?
Yes. Appointments are scheduled so that patients do not wait with other patients. Message us on WhatsApp or by email to arrange a time.
Can I get my records in English for my doctor at home?
Yes. Medical records and receipts are issued in English on request. Operative notes can be summarized in English for your doctor at home.
Does the clinic provide pregnancy care?
No. Obstetric care, meaning pregnancy care and delivery, is not provided. If you are pregnant or think you may be, see an obstetrician or a hospital that offers pregnancy care.
Is there an English-speaking gynecologist Seoul patients can see in the evening?
Evening appointments are available on weekdays. Consultations are available in English.
Can I pay with a foreign credit card?
Payment can be made by international credit card. Payment by international bank transfer is also accepted.
Can I bring a friend or partner to the appointment?
Yes. If you prefer, bring a friend or partner into the consultation. The NHS also suggests bringing someone with you for support.