🚨 Public Late-Night Pharmacies

Today Korean Social News for Beginners | 2025.11.20

0️⃣ Nighttime Medicine Access and Urban Concentration, Regional Healthcare Inequality Issues

📌 Public Late-Night Pharmacies Offer Peace of Mind at Night, But Only Cities are 'Bright'

💬 Public late-night pharmacies were introduced to help citizens who have difficulty finding pharmacies during nighttime hours. However, these pharmacies are concentrated only in urban areas, leaving healthcare gaps in other regions. The public late-night pharmacy system, introduced in 2022, operates from 10 PM to 1 AM, helping people buy medicines during emergencies. However, Gwangju city has only 6 locations and Jeollanam-do province has only 12 locations, making it difficult for non-urban residents to access medicines. Pharmacists are reluctant to participate due to the physical burden of year-round late-night operations and staff shortages. To solve these problems, the government plans to increase next year's budget to 5.7 billion won and is discussing additional support measures focused on population-declining areas and non-urban regions. Experts suggest flexible operating methods such as rotation systems or day-of-week schedules.

💡 Summary

• Public late-night pharmacies operate from 10 PM to 1 AM to improve access to medicines during nighttime hours.
• Non-urban areas still experience healthcare gaps due to urban-centered operations.
• Pharmacists' physical burden and staff shortages are major obstacles to expanding the system.

1️⃣ Definition

Public late-night pharmacies are pharmacies designated and operated by local governments that stay open from 10 PM to 1 AM, allowing citizens to purchase medicines during late-night hours when hospital visits are difficult. Introduced in 2022, this system is supported by the government and local governments splitting labor costs in half, and operates based on the Pharmacist Act and Regional Public Health Act.

Public late-night pharmacies are very helpful for citizens who need medicines urgently in emergency situations but cannot easily visit hospitals. For example, when a child suddenly develops a fever late at night, or when office workers need headache medicine after working overtime. Selected pharmacies in each region take turns operating, and residents can check which pharmacy is open that day through local government websites or apps.

💡 Why is this important?

• It improves access to medicines during late-night hours and protects citizens' right to health.
• It enables responses to mild illnesses that don't require emergency room visits.
• It reduces inconvenience for dual-income families and night shift workers.
• It is part of public health policy to reduce healthcare service inequality between regions.

2️⃣ Current Status and Problems of Public Late-Night Pharmacies

📕 Background and Current Status of the System

• Difficulty purchasing medicines during late-night hours led to introducing this system. The main background includes:

  • Most pharmacies close at 8-9 PM, making it difficult for night workers and dual-income families to obtain medicines.
  • Cases of people visiting emergency rooms for mild illnesses increased, wasting emergency medical resources.
  • Over-the-counter medicines sold at convenience stores were not enough to handle various symptoms.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of 24-hour healthcare access.

• The system has been gradually expanding since its 2022 introduction. The main current status includes:

  • It started as a pilot project in 2022 and expanded in earnest from 2023.
  • As of 2025, it operates mainly in major cities nationwide, with high user satisfaction.
  • Gwangju Metropolitan City has 6 locations, Jeollanam-do province has 12 locations, operating mainly in large cities.
  • The government allocated 5.7 billion won in the 2025 budget to expand the system.

📕 Urban Concentration and Regional Inequality Problems

• Public late-night pharmacies are concentrated only in urban areas. The main problems include:

  • Large cities and urban areas have multiple operating locations, but rural areas and population-declining regions are blind spots.
  • Non-urban residents experience inconvenience of having to travel long distances when they need medicines at night.
  • Access itself is difficult without a vehicle during late-night hours when public transportation stops.
  • This results in deepening healthcare service gaps between regions.

• It is difficult to secure participating pharmacies. The main reasons include:

  • Pharmacists complain about physical burden from year-round late-night work.
  • Severe staff shortage makes it difficult to find additional personnel to operate pharmacies during late-night hours.
  • Government-supported labor costs alone are not enough to cover actual operating costs.
  • Especially in non-urban areas, low user numbers reduce pharmacies' motivation to participate.

📕 Pharmacists' Difficulties and Operating Burdens

• The physical burden of late-night work is significant. The main difficulties include:

  • Since they must operate normally during the day and work at night too, pharmacists' health can deteriorate.
  • For single-pharmacist pharmacies, the pharmacist must personally work late-night shifts without replacement staff.
  • Year-round operations leave insufficient rest time and disrupt work-life balance.
  • The number of pharmacies giving up midway is increasing because it's difficult to sustain long-term.

• Securing personnel and cost burdens are obstacles. The main problems include:

  • It is very difficult to find pharmacists or pharmacy assistants to work during late-night hours.
  • Government-supported labor costs are around 2 million won per month, lower than actual labor costs.
  • Additional operating costs such as late-night electricity and heating bills are also burdens.
  • On days with few users, pharmacies must keep the doors open and accept losses.

💡 Key Issues of Public Late-Night Pharmacies

1. Urban concentration problem: Continued healthcare gaps in non-urban and rural areas
2. Pharmacist shortage: Difficulty securing additional personnel for late-night work
3. Physical burden: Concerns about pharmacists' health deterioration from year-round operations
4. Cost burden: Difficulty covering actual operating costs with government support alone
5. Usage rate differences: High usage in urban areas but insufficient users in non-urban areas

3️⃣ System Improvement Plans and Future Tasks

✅ Government Budget Increase and Strengthened Support

• Next year's budget will be significantly increased. The main contents include:

  • The government increased the 2026 public late-night pharmacy budget to 5.7 billion won.
  • This is a considerable increase from the previous year, showing the will to expand the system.
  • The increased budget will be invested in expanding participating pharmacies and making labor costs more realistic.
  • Additional support for non-urban area pharmacies is under review.

• Support for population-declining areas will be prioritized. The main directions include:

  • Based on the Special Act on Support for Population-Declining Areas, provide incentives to non-urban pharmacies.
  • Set higher basic support funds for pharmacies in rural areas and population-declining regions.
  • Cooperate with local governments to prepare customized support plans for each region.
  • Medicine delivery services for residents in areas with difficult mobility are also under review.

✅ Introducing Flexible Operating Methods

• Flexible methods such as day-of-week systems are proposed. The main plans include:

  • If multiple pharmacies divide days of the week, it can reduce pharmacists' burden.
  • For example, Pharmacy A operates late-night on Mon/Wed/Fri, Pharmacy B on Tue/Thu/Sat.
  • Areas with low usage rates can operate only on weekends or specific days.
  • Introducing a rotation system can prevent one pharmacy from bearing the burden all year.

• Support for employing multiple pharmacists is needed. The main tasks include:

  • If the government supports more additional pharmacist labor costs, shift work becomes possible.
  • Encourage hiring pharmacy school graduates or career-interrupted pharmacists as late-night pharmacists.
  • Improve the system to enable flexible personnel management using part-time pharmacists.
  • Additional welfare support to improve pharmacists' working environment is also needed.

✅ Discussion on Expanding Over-the-Counter Medicines

• Expanding medicine sales items at convenience stores is being reviewed. The main contents include:

  • Currently, only 11 types can be sold at convenience stores: fever reducers, cold medicine, digestive medicine, pain patches, etc.
  • In areas lacking public late-night pharmacies, convenience store medicine sales can be an alternative.
  • The government is reviewing allowing additional medicines with confirmed safety.
  • However, pharmacist groups demand a cautious approach due to concerns about misuse and side effects.

• Linkage with online pharmacies is also being reviewed. The main plans include:

  • A system where people receive medicine consultation online during late-night hours and have it delivered.
  • In non-urban areas, receiving medicines by delivery after video consultation is also possible.
  • However, prescription medicines have a principle of face-to-face sales, so it applies only to over-the-counter medicines.
  • Legal arrangements such as revising the Pharmacist Act must precede implementation.

4️⃣ Related Term Explanations

🔎 Pharmacist Act

• The Pharmacist Act is a law that defines pharmacists' duties and pharmacy operating standards.
  • The Pharmacist Act is a law that defines pharmacist qualifications and scope of duties, pharmacy establishment and operating standards, medicine dispensing and sales regulations, etc., to improve national health. It was enacted in 1953 and has been revised several times, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
  • The main contents of the Pharmacist Act include: First, only those who have received a pharmacist license can be pharmacists, and only pharmacists can establish pharmacies. Second, pharmacies can dispense and sell medicines according to prescriptions. Third, prescription medicines can be sold only with a prescription, and over-the-counter medicines can be sold without a prescription. Fourth, pharmacies must meet facility and equipment standards and undergo regular inspections.
  • Public late-night pharmacies are designated and operated by local government ordinances based on Article 20 of the Pharmacist Act. Since the Pharmacist Act does not specifically limit pharmacy operating hours, they operate through ordinances defining late-night operations and the government providing labor cost support. Violations of the Pharmacist Act can result in license suspension or fines, and in serious cases, criminal punishment.

🔎 Regional Public Health Act

• The Regional Public Health Act is a law for promoting local residents' health.
  • The Regional Public Health Act is a law that requires the national government and local governments to establish and implement regional healthcare policies to protect and promote local residents' health. It started as the Public Health Center Act in 1956 and was completely revised as the Regional Public Health Act in 1995.
  • The main contents of the Regional Public Health Act include: First, the Minister of Health and Welfare must establish a regional healthcare plan, and local governments must create detailed plans suitable for regional conditions. Second, public health centers and sub-centers must be established to provide medical services to local residents. Third, public health projects such as health examinations, vaccinations, maternal and child health, and mental health must be promoted. Fourth, support for medically vulnerable areas must be strengthened.
  • Public late-night pharmacies are promoted as part of public health projects to guarantee local residents' right to health based on Article 3 of the Regional Public Health Act (Responsibilities of the State and Local Governments). The Regional Public Health Act specifies service provision for times or areas with low healthcare accessibility as an obligation of the state and local governments, providing the legal basis for public late-night pharmacies.

🔎 Special Act on Support for Population-Declining Areas

• The Special Act on Support for Population-Declining Areas is a law supporting regions with declining populations.
  • The Special Act on Support for Population-Declining Areas is a law enacted in 2023 to prevent the extinction of regions experiencing rapid population decline due to low birth rates and aging, and to restore regional vitality. Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, it provides financial and administrative support to areas designated as population-declining regions.
  • The main contents of this law include: First, designating population-declining regions for special support. Currently, 89 cities, counties, and districts nationwide are designated. Second, population-declining regions receive government budget support, deregulation, and tax benefits. Third, essential public services such as healthcare, education, and culture receive priority support. Fourth, projects for local job creation and youth settlement are promoted.
  • Based on this law, the government is reviewing plans to provide additional budget support to public late-night pharmacies in population-declining areas. Access to late-night healthcare services is even more important in areas with smaller populations and more elderly people. However, since operating pharmacies is difficult due to few users, opinions are raised that higher incentives and support are needed.

🔎 Over-the-Counter Medicine System

• The over-the-counter medicine system allows selling some medicines at convenience stores.
  • The over-the-counter medicine system allows general medicines with confirmed safety and low risk of side effects to be sold at convenience stores and supermarkets, not just pharmacies. Introduced in 2012, it has the purpose of improving citizens' access to medicines and supporting self-treatment for minor illnesses.
  • Currently, 11 types of over-the-counter medicines can be sold. First, fever reducers and pain relievers (Tylenol, Geborin, etc.). Second, cold medicines (Pankol, Panpyrin, etc.). Third, digestive medicines (Gas Hwalmyeongsu, Beazyme, etc.). Fourth, pain patches (Shinsin Pas, Jeil Pas, etc.). Fifth, other external medicines (Fusidine, Madecassol, etc.). However, prescription medicines or addictive medicines are excluded.
  • There is discussion about increasing over-the-counter medicine items to supplement the shortage of public late-night pharmacies. This is because many convenience stores operate 24 hours, offering good accessibility. However, pharmacist groups maintain a cautious position, saying that purchasing medicines without professional consultation increases risks of misuse and side effects. Currently, the position is that expanding public late-night pharmacies is a priority over expanding items.

5️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How can I find a public late-night pharmacy?

A: You can check the pharmacy operating that day through local government websites, apps, or by contacting public health centers.

• Public late-night pharmacies don't operate at the same location every day; rather, local pharmacies take turns operating. Therefore, you need to check which pharmacy is operating late-night on that particular day. The easiest method is to visit the local government (city, county, or district office) website. Most local governments have a 'Public Late-Night Pharmacy Operating Status' or 'On-Duty Pharmacy' page on their websites where you can check addresses and phone numbers.
• Additionally, some local governments provide real-time guidance on pharmacies operating that day through smartphone apps. Installing the app is convenient as you can find the nearest public late-night pharmacy based on your location. If internet use is difficult, you can call the local public health center or city/county/district office duty room for guidance. To avoid wasting time in emergency situations, it's good to save information about public late-night pharmacies in your neighborhood in advance.

Q: Can I buy all medicines at public late-night pharmacies?

A: Over-the-counter medicines are available for purchase, but prescription medicines require a doctor's prescription.

• Public late-night pharmacies are subject to the same regulations as regular pharmacies. Therefore, you can freely purchase over-the-counter medicines (pain relievers, cold medicine, digestive medicine, pain patches, etc.) that can be bought without a prescription. You can also get recommendations for medicines suitable for your symptoms by consulting with the pharmacist. However, prescription medicines such as antibiotics, high blood pressure medicine, and diabetes medicine can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription.
• If you need prescription medicines during late-night hours, you must visit an emergency room to receive medical treatment from a doctor and get a prescription. Afterward, you can present the prescription at a public late-night pharmacy and have the medicine dispensed. Therefore, if you have prescription medicines you take regularly, it's good to secure extras in advance. Also, people with chronic diseases should regularly visit hospitals to receive prescriptions and develop the habit of getting medicines dispensed before they run out.

Q: What should I do if I live in an area without public late-night pharmacies?

A: You should use public late-night pharmacies in nearby areas, convenience store over-the-counter medicines, or emergency rooms.

• Currently, public late-night pharmacies operate mainly in urban areas, making access difficult for residents of non-urban or rural areas. In this case, first, you can use public late-night pharmacies in nearby cities. If you have a vehicle, you'll need to travel some distance, but it can be an option in emergency situations. It's good to know information about public late-night pharmacies in nearby areas in advance.
• Second, you can purchase over-the-counter medicines at 24-hour convenience stores. Since 11 types of general medicines including fever reducers, cold medicine, digestive medicine, and pain patches are sold at convenience stores, you can use these for mild symptoms. Third, if symptoms are serious or you need prescription medicines, you must visit an emergency room. Emergency rooms provide 24-hour medical care and prescriptions, and you can receive medicines immediately from the pharmacy inside the emergency room. The government also recognizes this regional inequality problem and plans to expand public late-night pharmacies centered on population-declining areas, so improvements are expected gradually.

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