Find open clinics and pharmacies during Chuseok holiday via 'Eung-geup Ddokddok,' 'E-Gen'

People with mild symptoms during the Chuseok holiday can use the "Eung-geup Ddokddok" app or the National Emergency Medical Center's "E-Gen" website to find nearby clinics and hospitals that are open.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has designated clinics, hospitals and pharmacies to remain open through Sunday, the last day of the Chuseok holiday. All 416 emergency medical institutions will maintain 24-hour services as usual, while an average of 3,495 hospitals, clinics and public health centers and 4,383 pharmacies are set to operate each day during the holiday period.

For mild symptoms, people are advised to visit a nearby neighborhood clinic first. If a serious condition is suspected based on the examination, medical staff can arrange a swift transfer to a higher-level medical institution.

Information on open hospitals, clinics and pharmacies can be found through the "Eung-geup Ddokddok" app, the "Emergency Medical Information" app, the National Emergency Medical Center's E-Gen website and local government websites. People can also call the Ministry of Health and Welfare's call center at 129 or their city or provincial call center at 120.

Through the "Eung-geup Ddokddok" app, users can enter their symptoms and receive guidance on whether an emergency room visit is necessary. For severe symptoms, the app directs users to the nearest emergency room; for milder cases, it recommends visiting a nearby clinic first or provides information on self-administered first aid.

Local governments will also announce open medical facilities through emergency text alerts and disaster broadcast captions. However, operating schedules are subject to change, so people should call ahead to confirm before visiting.

Anyone experiencing serious symptoms commonly associated with severe conditions — such as difficulty breathing, sudden numbness in the limbs or difficulty speaking due to tongue paralysis — should call 119 immediately.

Medical consultation is available through 119, and paramedics will assess the severity of the condition and transport patients to an appropriate emergency medical facility.

All 17 regional trauma centers nationwide will operate emergency care systems for specialized trauma cases such as finger amputations, while 29 regional and local cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease centers will maintain 24-hour services and coordinate specialist referrals with other medical institutions.

To minimize gaps in pediatric care, 156 nighttime children's hospitals and 14 pediatric emergency medical centers will be monitored around the clock. The National Maternal and Child Medical Center's dedicated transfer team will also support the rapid nationwide transfer and transport of mothers and newborns.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Emergency Medical Center will operate 24-hour situation rooms to monitor regional emergency response systems and on-call medical facility readiness. Rapid response teams at public health centers and disaster medical assistance teams at 45 disaster hub hospitals nationwide will remain on standby for mass casualty and other emergency disaster situations.

"We will do our utmost to ensure the emergency medical system runs smoothly so the public can enjoy a safe Chuseok holiday," said Lee Jung-gyu, the ministry's director general of public health policy. "We ask that those with mild symptoms visit a nearby neighborhood clinic first, so that emergency room staff can focus on treating patients with serious and urgent conditions."