Seoul to Operate Around 13,000 Clinics and Pharmacies During Holiday
24-Hour Emergency Medical System in Place Throughout Lunar New Year
Emergency Treatment Centers and Specialized Hospitals to Operate "Without Holidays"
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will operate a 24-hour emergency medical system during the Lunar New Year holiday to prepare for potential emergency patients. In particular, to ensure that patients with minor symptoms can easily receive treatment, the city has designated and will operate a total of about 13,000 "open clinics and pharmacies."
In October last year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare declared an official end to the medical crisis triggered by the mass resignation of resident doctors and lifted both the "serious" level healthcare crisis alert and the emergency treatment system. However, during periods such as the Lunar New Year holiday when gaps in medical service use may occur, preemptive measures are needed to protect citizen safety. Accordingly, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to further strengthen support for access to medical services in order to maintain a seamless emergency medical response system during the holidays and minimize inconvenience to citizens.
First, emergency medical institutions and general hospital emergency rooms will operate 24 hours a day during the Lunar New Year holiday as they do on regular days. A total of 72 emergency rooms will remain open at all times, including 31 regional and local emergency medical centers such as Seoul National University Hospital, 20 local emergency medical institutions such as Seonam Hospital, and 21 hospitals with emergency rooms.
To reduce overcrowding in emergency rooms and minimize inconvenience to citizens, the city has also established a system that allows patients with minor symptoms to receive treatment more easily. During the holiday, an average of 2,656 "open clinics and pharmacies" per day (1,220 clinics and hospitals, and 1,436 pharmacies) will be in operation. In addition, two Seoul-type emergency treatment centers capable of providing urgent care for minor emergency patients who have difficulty using emergency rooms, and four specialized hospitals by disease category (surgical departments) will operate throughout the holiday without closing.
The Seoul-type emergency treatment centers will treat acute conditions such as trauma and high fever every day from 9:00 a.m. to midnight, and the specialized hospitals by disease category will provide 24-hour treatment every day for emergency patients requiring surgical care.
The emergency response system for pediatric patients and high-risk pregnant women will also be maintained 24 hours a day. Eight "Our Child Safe Hospitals" and three "Our Child Specialized Emergency Centers" for pediatric patients will operate around the clock. Outpatient treatment for pediatric patients with minor symptoms will be available at 10 "Our Child Safe Clinics" and 18 "Moonlight Children’s Hospitals."
To prepare for emergencies involving high-risk pregnant women and newborns during the Lunar New Year holiday, a 24-hour hotline will be operated among related institutions. Participating medical institutions will secure standby beds in their neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and specialists will be on duty 24 hours a day to provide treatment and handle emergency deliveries. Participants in the high-risk pregnant women and newborn hotline include the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the metropolitan emergency control center, maternal and child medical centers (Seoul National University Hospital, Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University Guro Hospital, and Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital), and municipal hospitals (Seoul Medical Center and Boramae Medical Center).
To minimize inconvenience to citizens caused by closures at private medical institutions during the Lunar New Year holiday, the city and district-level treatment systems will also be activated. Seven municipal hospitals will provide outpatient services for one or two days during the period, and 14 public health centers will provide normal outpatient services on Lunar New Year’s Day itself.
Among the municipal hospitals, Seoul Medical Center, Boramae Medical Center, Dongbu Hospital, and Seonam Hospital will provide 24-hour emergency treatment during the Lunar New Year holiday. Public health centers that will provide outpatient services on Lunar New Year’s Day are located in Gangnam-gu, Gangdong-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Gangseo-gu, Gwanak-gu, Guro-gu, Nowon-gu, Dobong-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, Mapo-gu, Seocho-gu, Seongdong-gu, Seongbuk-gu, and Yongsan-gu. Their operating hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Information on the operation of medical institutions such as "open clinics and pharmacies" during the holiday period can be found on the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s "2026 Lunar New Year Holiday Comprehensive Information" website and on the websites of the 25 district offices. The information is also available via the mobile apps "Sonmok Doctor 9988" and "Emergency Medical Information Service (e-gen)." In addition, citizens can obtain guidance by calling 120 (Dasan Call Center) or 119 (Emergency Situation Control Center) without dialing an area code.
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