Day 3: South Korea Trip: Seoul - Impromptu Visit to Seoul National University Hospital

Day 3: Kara Motel - SNUH - Dongdaemun - Insadong - Kara Motel

On the second day in Seoul, my darling was still having very high body temperature and the rashes on the body were more serious, spreading to all the skin surface. In view of this critical situation, his health was in danger. Therefore, the itinerary planned earlier would have to postpone. Instead, the most main destination was changed to Seoul National University Hospital.
Getting to the Hospital was not as easy as I thought. I got into the first taxi and told the taxi driver to go to the hospital. I tried to pronounce the sentence I obtained from the internet, Seoul-dae byongwon-euro kapshida" ("Let's go to Seoul University Hospital"). The taxi driver was unable to understand what I was trying to convey due to my bad pronunciation I supposed. Well, it was not that helpful to copy the romanized Korean words, instead the best way would be showing him "서울대학교병원" (Seoul National University Hospital) or requesting a call to translator service, which the phone number could be found on the sticker sticked at the passengers' seat window. I didn't notice the translator service until I successfully made the third taxi driver understood what I was saying. The taxi was on meter so the trip charge was reasonable ( from jongno-3 ga to SNUH: KRW1700).

Directly we asked the information counter for help and the staff was very kind to lead us the way to International Healthcare Clinic with higher English proficiency staffs. The first doctor we met was a dermatologist, suspected the patient have drug allergy and caused eruption. An injection and a list of medicine was given.

We returned to the International Healthcare Clinic and was asked whether the patient would like to take A(H1N1) test due to high body temperature and the test was expensive at KRW 500 000 ( around RM 1500). We were startled.

After that, we were given another option, free of charge test which was provided by another 3rd party healthcare center. For this service, it would take 4 days to know whether the patient in infected by A(H1N1) but the patient would need self-quarantined. I suppose mask and some medicine will be provided. Arghhh... can't imagine to have 4 days stucked in a motel room in South Korea.

At the end, we chose the paid service provided by SNUH, which within 1 hour time, you would know whether you got infected by A(H1N1). The test was simple. The doctor took some samples from the throat for the test.

Waiting... waiting... waiting......

Suddenly we were asked to go to Emergency Department. Nobody telling the result yet. We were so anxious. Then finally, one of the doctor in Emergency told us that the result showed negative. She explained that the first test result have the accuracy of 70% and there will be second test result in another 4 days to be 100% confirm the patient is free from A(H1N1). Treatment will need to be given within 48 hours after being diagnosed if you are A(H1N1) patient.

Thank God!! What a great relief. :D Finally, he could get proper treatment for his fever. The doctor prescribed the medicine to relieve the patient current symptoms ( to reduce fever, the sputum, cough and kill the oral germs). When it's time to pay for medical fees, we was charged at KRW260 140, surprisingly the test for A(H1N1) was not KRW500 000 but the medical fees still cost us a bomb! Medical fees is much cheaper back in Malaysia and we should be very grateful.

We reached the hospital:
The suspected A(H1N1) patient:
Our country is already in the list of contaminated region since May 26th, 2009:
Seoul University Hospital Museum:


From 11 am to 5 pm, we were stucked in the hospital. At last, it's over. We went for a walk at Dongdaemun (one station away from the hospital). Most of the shops sell women's clothings and shoes. The place was very crowded. We did some window shopping and took some pictures then back to motel.

A visit to Dongdaemun:
Chongyecheon Stream is a popular relaxing spot here:
Dinner time:

A started with a bowl of soup:
yummy Kimbap:
Octopus feast:

There are many skyscrapers at the area which mostly selling clothes:
Dongdaemun Gate at night:

On the way back to motel, we saw a street with many stalls, and at the end led us to Insadong, the famous antique street. It's kind of late so most of the stalls were preparing to close. We called it a day and return to motel for a good rest.

At the Insadong street:


Today Total Spending:
Taxi ----------------------------------------KRW 1 700
Dermatology Medical Fees ------------------KRW 39 750
A(H1N1) test & Emergency Medical Fees ---KRW260 140
Dinner -------------------------------------KRW 14 000
Cuttlefish ----------------------------------KRW 5 000
Drinks -------------------------------------KRW 3 500
Drinks -------------------------------------KRW 4 850
Missha ------------------------------------KRW 30 000