English-speaking therapists and mental health in Korea

Mental health

An English-language counseling center, Korea's national public psychiatric hospital, free counseling, and crisis lines, with licensure, languages, telehealth, and cost noted on every listing.

In crisis right now?

Call 1577-1366 (다누리, 24/7, 13 languages including English). If you do not speak Korean and need Korean emergency services, call 1330 and ask for a three-way interpreted call to 109 (suicide prevention) or 119 (emergency). For an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 119.

Counselor or psychiatrist? Counseling centers and psychologists provide talk therapy but cannot prescribe medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and prescribe, and visits are usually covered by National Health Insurance (국민건강보험). Many people see both. Every listing below notes the languages offered and whether sessions are in-person, online, or both.

Counseling and therapy

1 listed

English-speaking counseling centers and psychologists. Credentials are listed as each practice states them; if strict licensure matters to you, confirm the specific license before booking.

Seoul Counseling Center

Counseling
Mapo-gu, Seoul
English, Korean
In-person Telehealth

Credentials: US-licensed psychologists, therapists, and counselors

AnxietyDepressionTrauma / PTSDCouplesADHDGriefCross-cultural adjustment
The largest established English-speaking group practice in Korea (40+ providers). Accepts several international insurers (TRICARE, Cigna, AXA, Bupa). Also has a Pyeongtaek branch.
02-542-5553Website

Psychiatry (can prescribe)

1 listed

Psychiatric care that can diagnose and prescribe. Visits are typically covered by National Health Insurance (국민건강보험), so the out-of-pocket cost is a standard copay. Care here is in Korean, so bring an interpreter or use the 1330 relay.

National Center for Mental Health

국립정신건강센터

Psychiatry
Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
Korean
In-person

Credentials: National public psychiatric hospital under the Ministry of Health and Welfare

Adult psychiatryOlder-adult psychiatryChild and adolescent psychiatryPsychiatric emergency
Korea's national public mental hospital, at 127 Yongmasan-ro. Outpatient visits are booked by phone in advance, with no same-day appointments. The 24-hour psychiatric emergency room is on 02-2204-0119. Care is in Korean, so bring an interpreter or use the 1330 relay.
02-2204-0114Website

Free and low-cost

2 listed

Government and NGO services. Worth knowing about whether or not you can afford private rates.

Seoul Foreign Resident Center, free psychological counseling

서울외국인주민지원센터

Free / low-cost
English, Korean, Chinese
StressAnxietyDepressionInterpersonal challenges
Fully free: five 1:1 sessions for foreign residents aged 19+ in Seoul. Runs on sign-up cycles, so call first to confirm the program is open and book.
02-2229-4900Website

Danuri Helpline

다누리콜센터

Free / low-cost
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Russian, Japanese, Thai, Khmer, Mongolian, Uzbek, Nepali, Lao
Crisis interventionDomestic violence supportLegal referralsMulticultural family support
Government helpline (Ministry of Gender Equality and Family), 24/7 in 13 languages. Oriented toward marriage migrants and multicultural families but open to any foreign resident in crisis. Peer counseling and referral, not formal therapy.
1577-1366Website

Crisis lines

5 listed

Phone support. Languages shown are confirmed; 109 is Korean-only, so non-Korean speakers should use the 1330 relay above.

Korea Suicide Prevention Hotline (109)

자살예방상담전화

Crisis line
Korean
Suicide preventionMental health crisisEmergency intervention
Korea's primary 24/7 government suicide-prevention line. Korean-language only: if you do not speak Korean, call 1330 first and ask the operator to set up a three-way interpreted call to 109.
109

Danuri Helpline (crisis support)

다누리콜센터

Crisis line
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Russian, Japanese, Thai, Khmer, Mongolian, Uzbek, Nepali, Lao
Crisis supportDomestic violenceEmergency shelter referral
The most reliably multilingual crisis line confirmed by an official source, 24/7 in 13 languages. Best first call for a non-Korean speaker in distress.
1577-1366Website

Korea Travel Helpline (1330)

Crisis line
English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Korean
Emergency interpretation relayInformation
Not a counseling service, but the key relay tool: English-speaking operators can set up a three-way interpreted call to 109 (suicide prevention) or 119 (emergency). Use 1330 to reach Korean emergency services in English.
1330Website

Mental Health Crisis Counseling Line (1577-0199)

정신건강위기상담전화

Crisis line
Korean
Mental health crisisSuicide crisis counselingReferral to psychiatric care
A public line answered by mental health professionals at your nearest local or regional mental health welfare center, routed by your phone's location. In Seoul it runs 24 hours. Korean only: use the 1330 relay for an interpreted call.
1577-0199Website

Lifeline phone counseling (1588-9191)

생명의전화

Crisis line
Korean
Phone counselingSuicide crisis counselingOnline counseling
A non-profit social welfare corporation (사회복지법인 생명의전화) with trained volunteer counselors. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at the branch nearest you. The call is free apart from normal phone charges. Korean only.
1588-9191Website

Not sure how to start?

The guide explains how mental health care works in Korea, what NHIS (국민건강보험) covers, how to find English-speaking care, and what to expect at a first visit.

Read: Mental health care in Korea →
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