Emergencies
Toothache on a weekend or Korean holiday: where to get help in Seoul
Saturday clinic hours, what to do on Sundays and public holidays, phone lines that help in English, and when to go to a hospital emergency room.
By Dr. Kang Jun-guMedically reviewed by Dr. Kang Jun-guPublished Updated 4 min read
Quick answer
Many Seoul dental clinics, including ours, open on Saturday mornings. On Sundays and public holidays, use first aid and pain relief, message a clinic by chat so you're first in line when it opens, and call 1330 (Korea Travel Helpline) or 120 (Seoul Dasan Call Center) for help finding an open clinic. Severe swelling, breathing trouble or injury from an accident needs a hospital emergency room or 119.
Saturdays
Saturday mornings are often the busiest time for dental clinics in Seoul. Message ahead with a photo so the clinic can fit you in. Our Saturday hours are 9:00–14:00.
Sundays and public holidays
- Take your usual painkiller and use a cold compress for swelling
- Avoid chewing on the painful side
- Leave a chat message so you're seen first on the next opening day
- Call 1330 or 120 to ask which clinics are open
Go to a hospital emergency room if
- Swelling is spreading to your eye or neck
- You have trouble breathing or swallowing
- There's a facial injury or heavy bleeding
- You have a high fever with facial swelling
Questions people also ask
Do hospital emergency rooms treat toothache?
They can manage pain, swelling and infection, and injuries, but usually not dental treatment itself. You'll still need a dentist afterwards.
Is 1330 available in English?
Yes. The Korea Travel Helpline offers interpretation in English and other languages.
Need this looked at in Seoul?
Check-ups, scaling and whitening, with fees shown before we start.
Dr. Kang is a board-certified Integrated Dentistry specialist trained at Yonsei, Harvard and Columbia. He treats every patient at the Gongdeok clinic himself.
About Dr. KangHow we write these guides: each guide is written from questions our patients ask, reviewed by Dr. Kang, and updated when guidance changes. It is general information, not a diagnosis. For advice about your own teeth, please book a check-up.
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