X-Ray Cost in South Korea
What you actually pay with National Health Insurance at clinics and hospitals, without insurance, and through free national screening. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in South Korea?
A plain X-ray costs roughly ₩10,000–30,000 at a local clinic and ₩20,000–50,000 at a large hospital (about $7–37) before insurance. With National Health Insurance you pay only part of the covered fee — 30% at a clinic (의원), 40% at a hospital, 50% at a general hospital and 60% at a tertiary hospital — so a clinic X-ray usually costs just a few thousand won out of pocket. Insured adults also get a free chest X-ray every two years in the national health screening.
Quick Overview
South Korea has a single-payer National Health Insurance system run by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), with fees reviewed by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Fees are set by relative-value points multiplied by a conversion factor for each type of facility — ₩95.6 per point for clinics in 2026. For 2026 the contribution rate rose to 7.19% of wages (3.595% each for employee and employer). Plain X-rays are covered when medically needed; MRI and ultrasound are covered only for specific indications, and some services are non-covered (비급여), priced freely by the hospital and published on HIRA's non-covered fee database.
🏥 Local clinic (의원)
- Total X-ray bill roughly ₩10,000–30,000
- Walk-in orthopaedic and internal-medicine clinics
- X-ray and reading on the spot
- Cheapest route for simple films
🏥 General / tertiary hospital
- Total X-ray bill roughly ₩20,000–50,000
- Tertiary: consultation fee fully self-paid, 60% of the rest
- Referral letter needed for NHIS rates at tertiary hospitals
- Higher fee multipliers than clinics
🆓 National health screening
- General health screening every 2 years from age 20
- Annually for non-office workers
- Includes chest X-ray
- Book at a designated screening centre
X-Ray, CT and MRI Prices in South Korea
Korean X-ray prices depend more on the facility tier than on the body part. The table shows approximate total bills (before insurance) and how much an NHIS member pays. Non-covered prices for CT and MRI vary widely — HIRA data show up to threefold differences even between tertiary hospitals.
| Exam | NHIS member pays | Total / self-pay (KRW) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray | 30–60% of covered fee; free in screening | approx. ₩10,000–50,000 | $7–37 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray | 30–60% of covered fee | approx. ₩10,000–50,000 | $7–37 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray | 30–60% of covered fee | approx. ₩10,000–50,000 | $7–37 |
| Knee X-ray | 30–60% of covered fee | approx. ₩10,000–50,000 | $7–37 |
| Cervical / lumbar spine X-ray | 30–60% of covered fee | approx. ₩10,000–50,000 per region | $7–37 |
| Pelvis / abdomen X-ray | 30–60% of covered fee | approx. ₩10,000–50,000 | $7–37 |
| Dental panoramic | Covered when diagnostic (30% at dental clinic) | Varies by clinic | — |
| CT brain (non-covered) | approx. ₩30,000–90,000 if covered | ₩70,000–150,000 | $52–112 |
| CT chest (non-covered) | approx. ₩70,000–160,000 if covered | ₩150,000–230,000 | $112–172 |
| CT abdomen (non-covered) | approx. ₩50,000–190,000 if covered | ₩80,000–280,000 | $60–209 |
| MRI lumbar spine (covered) | approx. ₩95,000 (clinic) – ₩199,000 (tertiary) | approx. ₩360,000–700,000 non-covered | $71–148 insured |
| MRI brain (covered) | approx. ₩90,000–180,000 | approx. ₩380,000–660,000 non-covered | $67–134 insured |
| Ultrasound | Covered for specific indications | Non-covered price set by hospital (see HIRA) | — |
X-ray totals are approximate ranges reported by Korean health platforms (goodoc) for clinics (₩10,000–30,000) and large general hospitals (₩20,000–50,000); body-part rows apply these ranges. CT ranges from Banksalad (August 2026). MRI figures are the patient shares announced when NHIS coverage was expanded (brain 2018, spine 2022) and the pre-expansion averages, as compiled in September 2026; actual 2026 bills can differ. USD at approximately ₩1,341 = $1 (October 2026).
How NHIS Pays for X-Rays
Outpatient co-pay by facility tier
- Clinic (의원): 30%
- Hospital (병원, urban): 40%
- General hospital (종합병원): 50%
- Tertiary hospital (상급종합병원): consultation fee 100%, then 60%
- Inpatient care: generally 20%
Covered vs non-covered
- Plain X-rays: covered when ordered for diagnosis or treatment
- MRI: covered only for listed indications (brain, spine, abdomen etc.)
- Brain MRI for simple headache or dizziness non-covered since October 2023
- Health-certificate X-rays (jobs, visas, licences): non-covered
- Hospitals publish non-covered prices on HIRA (비급여 진료비 정보)
Contributions (2026)
- Health insurance rate 7.19% of wages (up from 7.09%)
- Employee and employer each pay 3.595%
- Long-term care insurance charged on top
- Self-employed and regional members pay by income and assets
Where to Get an X-Ray in South Korea
🏥 Tertiary Hospitals (with international clinics)
- Severance Hospital (Yonsei) — Seoul
- Samsung Medical Center — Seoul
- Asan Medical Center — Seoul
- Seoul National University Hospital — Seoul
- Seoul St. Mary's Hospital — Seoul
🏥 Public Options
- National Medical Center — Seoul
- NHIS Ilsan Hospital — Goyang
- Seoul Medical Center and municipal hospitals
- Public health centres (보건소) for screening services
💡 Practical tips
- Start at a local clinic — lowest co-pay and no referral needed
- Use a referral letter (진료의뢰서) for tertiary hospitals
- Compare non-covered prices on HIRA or the 건강e음 app
- Ask for the itemised bill (진료비 세부내역서) for silson claims
Guide by Patient Type
🇰🇷 NHIS members
- Pay 30–60% of covered fees depending on tier
- Silson insurance can reimburse most of the rest
- Use the free biennial screening for chest X-rays
💼 Foreign residents
- Automatic NHIS enrolment after 6 months of stay (employees via workplace from the start)
- Same co-pay rates as Koreans once enrolled
- Bring your residence card for ID verification
✈️ Tourists
- Pay the full (uninsured) fee — often above NHIS prices
- International clinics at major hospitals offer interpreters
- Local clinics are far cheaper for simple X-rays
- Travel insurance recommended; keep English receipts
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- ID: residence card, passport or mobile NHIS ID (required since May 2024)
- Referral letter for tertiary hospitals
- Previous images on CD
- Card for payment
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: X-ray during the visit
- Local clinic: same visit, usually within an hour
- Tertiary hospital: appointments can take weeks
- Results: usually explained the same day at clinics
💡 How to save money
- Clinics have the lowest co-pay rate (30%)
- Avoid tertiary hospitals without a referral
- Check whether MRI meets coverage criteria before booking
- File silson claims within the policy deadline
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in South Korea?
A plain X-ray typically costs about ₩10,000–30,000 at a local clinic and ₩20,000–50,000 at a large general hospital (about $7–37) before insurance, depending on views and add-ons. With National Health Insurance (NHIS) you pay only a share of the covered fee: 30% at a clinic, 40% at a hospital, 50% at a general hospital and 60% at a tertiary hospital.
엑스레이 비용은 얼마인가요? (How much is an X-ray?)
의원급에서는 대략 1만~3만 원, 대형 종합병원에서는 2만~5만 원 정도가 일반적이며, 건강보험 적용 시 외래 본인부담률은 의원 30%, 병원 40%, 종합병원 50%, 상급종합병원 60%입니다. In English: roughly ₩10,000–50,000 before NHIS; your share is 30–60% depending on the hospital tier.
Is a chest X-ray free in Korea?
A chest X-ray is included at no cost in the NHIS general health screening, offered every two years to insured adults aged 20 and over (annually for non-office workers). Outside screening, you pay the normal NHIS co-pay. Chest X-rays for job, visa or licence health certificates are non-covered and priced by the clinic.
How much does an MRI or CT cost in Korea?
Non-covered CT prices reported in 2026 are about ₩70,000–150,000 for the brain, ₩150,000–230,000 for the chest and ₩80,000–280,000 for the abdomen. MRI is covered by NHIS only for specific indications; when covered, patients paid about ₩95,000–199,000 for a lumbar spine MRI and ₩90,000–180,000 for a brain MRI under the expansion announcements. Since October 2023 brain MRI for simple headache or dizziness is non-covered.
Do foreigners pay the same as Koreans?
Foreign residents are enrolled in NHIS after six months of registered stay (immediately for employees in a workplace scheme) and pay the same co-pay rates as Koreans. Tourists and uninsured foreigners pay the full fee, which hospitals may set above the NHIS price. Major hospitals such as Severance, Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center and Seoul National University Hospital run international clinics.
What is silson insurance and does it cover X-rays?
Silson (실손의료보험) is private indemnity insurance that reimburses much of what NHIS leaves you to pay. Depending on the policy generation, you keep roughly 10–30% of covered costs and 20–50% of non-covered costs. Claims need the itemised receipt and a diagnosis code; screening-only exams are not covered.
Do I need ID to see a doctor in Korea?
Yes. Since May 2024 hospitals and clinics must verify your identity when you use NHIS, so bring your residence card, passport or the mobile NHIS ID. Without verification you may be charged the full fee and need to claim a refund later.
Can I walk into a clinic for an X-ray?
Yes. Local clinics (의원) such as orthopaedic or internal-medicine clinics usually see walk-in patients and take X-rays on the spot. Tertiary hospitals require a referral letter for NHIS rates; without one you pay the full fee.
Is a dental panoramic X-ray covered in Korea?
Panoramic dental X-rays taken for diagnosis or treatment are covered by NHIS, so you pay the normal outpatient co-pay at a dental clinic. Cosmetic or orthodontic-only imaging may be priced as non-covered; check the clinic's non-covered fee list on the HIRA website.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) — co-payment rules, general health screening, foreigner enrolment
- Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) — 2026 fee schedule (₩95.6 per point for clinics) and non-covered fee disclosure
- Ministry of Health and Welfare / Kukmin Ilbo (August 2025) — 2026 contribution rate set at 7.19%
- IS Clinic — MRI cost guide 2026 (September 2026), including coverage criteria and co-pay rates by tier
- Banksalad — CT cost and silson claim guide (August 2026)
- Goodoc — typical chest X-ray cost ranges at clinics and general hospitals
- Exchange rate: open.er-api.com, 12 October 2026 (≈ ₩1,341 per US$)
Last reviewed: October 2026. Covered fees change every year and non-covered prices are set by each hospital — check HIRA or ask the hospital before your scan.