The city of Busan City has announced the expansion of public late-night pharmacies to 16 locations this year, ensuring greater convenience for citizens needing medication during late hours.
These pharmacies will operate daily for three hours, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., without closure.
With the revision of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Busan’s previous dual-system pilot project—divided into Busan-type and government-type models—has now been integrated into a unified district- and county-level operation.
This transition allows for a more stable and efficient management of public late-night pharmacies tailored to regional needs.
Previously, Busan-type pharmacies operated for two hours, while government-type pharmacies ran for three hours.
The updated system standardizes operation hours to three hours daily, with each pharmacy receiving an hourly subsidy of 40,000 won.
In regions like Gijang-gun, where it is difficult to recruit public late-night pharmacies, flexible operating methods have been introduced to ensure continuous service availability based on local conditions.
This expansion aims to improve citizens’ access to essential medications during late hours while providing professional pharmacist consultations.
Busan’s public late-night pharmacy program initially launched in 2021 with four designated locations. Since then, it has expanded annually, reaching 12 locations by 2023 and 14 locations in 2024, receiving positive feedback from residents.
Last year alone, more than 25,000 cases of drug sales and medication consultations were recorded, with the highest usage rates among individuals aged 30 to 50.
Public late-night pharmacies not only provide medication but also offer essential guidance from professional pharmacists, ensuring citizens use medicines safely during late hours.
For real-time information on public late-night pharmacy operations, citizens can visit the Emergency Medical Portal at www.e-gen.or.kr.
