Specialty

이비인후과 are among the busiest neighborhood clinics in Korea. Residents go to them first for colds, sore throats, sinus infections, earwax and allergies. Most ENT clinics have an endoscope at each desk, so the doctor can look inside the nose, throat or ears and show you the image on screen.

Walk-ins are normal and visits are quick, often under 10 minutes, with nebulizer or nasal suction treatment straight after. Some ENT clinics in Gangnam also run sleep clinics with home or overnight sleep tests and offer snoring surgery or CPAP setup.

NHIS covers most ENT care for insured patients, including diagnosis of sleep apnea and CPAP when criteria are met. Without NHIS, a basic ENT visit with endoscopy usually still costs a modest amount, and prescriptions are filled cheaply at the pharmacy downstairs.

What to expect

Bring your passport. Walk-ins are fine, but mornings and Monday are busy.
Expect a nasal or throat endoscopy shown on a monitor during the consultation.
Nebulizer or nasal spray treatment may be done in a side room after the consultation.
Prescriptions are usually for 3 to 5 days. Pick them up at a nearby pharmacy.
Card payment at the desk is standard.

Tips for international patients

Visit ENT for a cold or sore throat rather than an internal medicine clinic; this is what Koreans do.
For sleep apnea, plan time for the sleep test and a results visit, usually 2 to 7 days apart.
Ask for medication names in English for your records.

Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. A doctor confirms what suits you at consultation.

ENT treatments

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and CPAP: Overnight sleep study (polysomnography) to measure apnea, then CPAP, an oral appliance or surgery depending on severity and anatomy.
Snoring Surgery: Surgery to open the nose or throat airway: septoplasty, turbinate reduction, radiofrequency palate treatment or UPPP. Choice depends on where blockage occurs.

ENT clinics near Apgujeong

Sori ENT Clinic (소리이비인후과의원)
ENT, 8 min walk from Cheongdam Station
Mirae ENT Clinic (미래이비인후과의원)
ENT, 7 min walk from Apgujeong Station
Yesong ENT Clinic (예송이비인후과의원)
ENT, 13 min walk from Cheongdam Station

ENT in Korea: questions

Can an ENT clinic remove earwax safely?

Yes. The doctor uses a microscope or endoscope with suction or small tools. It takes a few minutes.

How is sleep apnea tested?

With an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) at a sleep center, or a home test device in some cases. The report shows how often breathing stops per hour.

Is snoring surgery painful?

Throat surgery for snoring can be sore for 1 to 2 weeks. Nasal procedures are usually milder.

Will I get antibiotics for a cold?

Not usually for a simple cold. Antibiotics are prescribed when the doctor sees signs of a bacterial sinus or ear infection.

Can I fly with a blocked ear?

An ENT can check the eardrum and give decongestants. Flying with a bad ear infection can be painful, so get checked before your flight.

How much does an ENT visit cost without insurance?

A consultation with endoscopy is usually tens of thousands of won without NHIS, plus a few thousand won at the pharmacy. Sleep studies cost far more.

Questions before you visit?

Specialty · 이비인후과

ENT Clinics in Apgujeong

At a glance