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Wouldn’t it be nice if your medicine arrived at your door after a video visit?
Korea’s revised Medical Service Act takes effect on December 24, 2026. But telemedicine drug delivery in Korea is not open to everyone.
It’s a limited exception for certain groups.
Here’s who qualifies and what to check before you try.
Quick summary: Telemedicine drug delivery covers five groups. They are residents of islands and remote areas, long-term care benefit recipients, registered disabled people, Class 1–2 infectious disease patients, and rare disease patients.
Everyone else should expect to pick up medicine at a pharmacy.
The government has only started talks on widening delivery to all patients. Nothing is final.
Who Qualifies for Telemedicine Drug Delivery in Korea?
Under the revised law, telemedicine drug delivery is limited to five groups. If you aren’t in one of them, the default is picking up your prescription in person.
Home delivery of prescriptions is receiving medicine prescribed after a remote visit at your residence instead of at a pharmacy.
Here are the groups reported as eligible.
| No. | Eligible group | In plain words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Island and remote-area residents | People living where pharmacies are hard to reach |
| 2 | Long-term care benefit recipients | People receiving benefits under Korea’s long-term care insurance |
| 3 | Registered disabled people | People officially registered as disabled in Korea |
| 4 | Class 1–2 infectious disease patients | Confirmed cases whose movement may be restricted |
| 5 | Rare disease patients | People managed for a designated rare disease |
Source: Yakhak Gongron (reporting a Ministry of Health and Welfare press release), August 20, 2026; MTN News, September 14, 2026
Being able to see a doctor remotely is separate from being able to get delivery.
You may have the visit online and still need to collect your medicine at a pharmacy.
Some reports describe the long-term care group as “grade holders aged 65 and over.” Others say “benefit recipients.”
Detailed criteria may be set in follow-up regulations, so check Ministry of Health and Welfare notices before you apply.
How Do You Apply for Home Delivery After a Telemedicine Visit?
The detailed application steps for home delivery aren’t finalized yet. The law hasn’t taken effect, so it’s wise to learn the usual telemedicine flow and wait for official guidance.
Screens and steps differ by platform.
The general flow looks like this.
- Check which telemedicine app and clinics are available.
- See whether you fall into one of the five delivery-eligible groups.
- Book the visit and talk with the doctor by video or voice.
- Choose a pharmacy once your electronic prescription is issued.
- Pick up in person. If you’re eligible, follow the home-delivery instructions in the app or pharmacy.
✅ Do you belong to one of the five groups?
✅ Does the app say you need documents to confirm that?
✅ Have you planned how to get your medicine when you need it?
For more on using Korean hospitals, see our Hospital Guide for Korea. (Internal link: replace with a related article after publishing.)
What Changes When Telemedicine Becomes Law in December?
From December 24, 2026, telemedicine in Korea runs on a legal basis in the Medical Service Act. Drug delivery stays an exception, not the rule.
Institutionalizing telemedicine is giving remote care, which ran as a pilot program, a formal legal footing.
The key dates are below.
- December 2, 2025: The amendment passed the National Assembly (95 for, 34 against, 49 abstaining among 178 present).
- August 20, 2026: The government said it would begin talks on wider drug delivery.
- December 24, 2026: The revised Medical Service Act takes effect.
Source: Asia Economy, December 2025; Korea JoongAng Daily, 2026
After the law starts, the standard way to get medicine is still a pharmacy visit.
Delivery is an exception for five groups only.
Will Drug Delivery Expand to All Patients?
Nothing is decided. Talks have only just begun. Whether and when delivery widens depends on future negotiations.
On August 20, 2026, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced a joint public-private council. It will discuss wider eligibility and review changes to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and Medical Service Act.
The Korean Pharmaceutical Association (the national pharmacists’ group) said it won’t join a council built on expansion.
| Viewpoint | Main argument |
|---|---|
| Supporting a review | Easier access to medicine for patients |
| Raising concerns | Identity theft, drug misuse, and weak safeguards |
Source: Yakhak Gongron (reporting a Ministry of Health and Welfare press release), August 2026; MTN News, September 14, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can anyone get medicine delivered after a telemedicine visit?
No. The revised law makes pharmacy pickup the default. Delivery is an exception for five groups.
2. Are the steps to apply for home delivery set?
Not yet. The law hasn’t taken effect, so check your app’s guidance and Ministry of Health and Welfare notices.
3. Is expansion to all patients confirmed?
No. The government only began talks in August 2026, and pharmacists’ opposition is a major sticking point.
4. How do I get my medicine if I’m not eligible?
After you receive an electronic prescription, choose a pharmacy and pick it up in person. Ask the pharmacist if you have questions about taking it.
References
- Asia Economy, 「Institutionalization of “Telemedicine”… “Medical Service Act” Amendment Passes National Assembly After 15 Years」, 2025 Link
- Korea JoongAng Daily, 「Korea considers prescription drug delivery for all telemedicine patients」, 2026 Link
- Yakhak Gongron (Korean Pharmaceutical News), 「Review of expanding remote care and drug delivery… will a public-private council start?」 (original: 비대면-약배송 확대 검토…범정부·약사회 ‘민관협의체’ 가동되나), 2026 Link
- MTN News, 「Telemedicine to become law in December… conflict over drug delivery expansion」 (original: 12월에 비대면진료 제도화…약 배송 확대 갈등), 2026 Link
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you have health concerns.
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