A gynecologist in Gangnam for foreigners: what we see you for
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.
Gangnam Podo Women's Clinic is a women's clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, focused on gynecologic surgery and pelvic floor care. If your concern is not on this list, message us before you book and we will tell you whether it is something we treat.
Tests available on the day
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. Two ultrasound units are used for pelvic assessment.
A Pap smear and an HPV test are both done on a sample taken from the cervix, and the doctor will explain which one you need. Many sexually transmitted infections cause no symptoms, which is why testing matters. The CDC recommends chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 and says everyone aged 13 to 64 should be offered HIV screening.
Procedures and vaccination
All types of IUD can be inserted on the day of your visit. A consultation about contraception comes first.
Colposcopy is performed, and lesions can be excised on the day of the visit, with the tissue sent to a laboratory for biopsy. Bartholin cysts and other vulvar lesions can be removed, with biopsy.
The Gardasil 9 HPV vaccine is available. The CDC recommends HPV vaccination routinely at age 11 or 12 and for everyone through age 26 who has not completed the series. Adults aged 27 to 45 may decide after talking with a doctor.
English-speaking female gynecologists in Gangnam
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. Tell us when booking if you have a preference.
What a visit costs
Fees follow the clinic's published fee list, and we tell you the cost before any test is done. The fee depends on what is done at the visit, such as a consultation alone or one that adds an ultrasound or laboratory tests, so ask for the cost in your first message.
How a visit works without Korean insurance
Visitors and many short-term residents are not covered by Korean national health insurance. The system 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. If you are not enrolled, you pay for the visit yourself and then claim the cost from your own insurer, if your policy covers it.
The steps are the same each time. Ask for the cost before the visit. Pay on the day. Ask for an itemized receipt in English. If your insurer needs more, ask for a medical certificate or a visit summary. Then send the documents to your insurer from home. We prepare the documents international insurers typically require: an itemized English receipt, a medical certificate, procedure codes and a completed claim form. Payment can be made by international credit card. Medical records and receipts are issued in English on request.
Travel insurance often covers unexpected illness or injury and may exclude routine care such as check-ups and screening tests. Check the wording of your policy. Whether a procedure is reimbursed depends on your policy; we provide documentation, not coverage decisions.
What we do not provide
The clinic does not provide obstetric delivery services. For emergencies, go to a hospital emergency department.
When to go to a hospital instead
Some problems need a hospital emergency department. Go to a hospital, or call 119 for an ambulance, if you have bleeding that soaks a pad in an hour, severe or sudden abdominal pain, fainting, chest pain or trouble breathing. Seek urgent care too if you have a positive pregnancy test with one-sided pain or bleeding. These are examples, not a complete list.
In Korea the number for an ambulance is 119. Ask for English when the call is answered, and name a nearby building or subway exit. Several large hospitals in Seoul have international health centers that help foreign patients with language and paperwork.
If you are pregnant or think you may be, see an obstetrician or a hospital that offers pregnancy care. For a concern that is not an emergency, message us first and we will tell you whether it is something we treat.
Booking
Message us on WhatsApp or by email. You can reach us in English on WhatsApp during clinic hours. Evening appointments are available on weekdays.
Questions
Is there a gynecologist in Gangnam for foreigners who do not have Korean insurance?
Yes. Visitors can be seen without Korean insurance. You pay for the visit yourself, ask for an itemized receipt in English, and claim the cost from your own insurer if your policy covers it.
Can I have an IUD fitted during a short stay in Seoul?
All types of IUD can be inserted on the day of your visit. A consultation about contraception comes first.
Can I get the HPV vaccine at the clinic?
The Gardasil 9 HPV vaccine is available. The doctor confirms at the consultation whether it suits you.
Can a woman doctor see me?
Two of the clinic's three OB-GYN specialists are women. Tell us when booking if you have a preference.
Does the clinic provide pregnancy care?
No. Obstetric care, meaning pregnancy care and delivery, is not provided.
What happens if my Pap or HPV result is abnormal?
Colposcopy is performed, and lesions can be excised on the day of the visit, with the tissue sent to a laboratory for biopsy. The NHS says a colposcopy usually takes 15 to 20 minutes and that you can usually go home afterward. Tell the doctor how long you are staying in Seoul so that follow-up can be planned around your travel.
What paperwork do I get for my insurer?
We prepare the documents international insurers typically require: an itemized English receipt, a medical certificate, procedure codes and a completed claim form. Medical records and receipts are issued in English on request. Whether a procedure is reimbursed depends on your policy; we provide documentation, not coverage decisions.
Sources
About the reviewer
Dr. Mo Hyung-jin, MD, PhD, board-certified OB-GYN specialist, is the medical director of Podo Women's Clinic. He developed the pelvic ligament suspension technique used at the clinic for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Profile