At Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine, you can request to see a specialist directly without needing a referral. I booked an appointment with Dr. Yoo Du-yeol for a thyroid concern, and everything was quick and simple. The clinic made it really easy to get checked without extra steps. Visit here: www.sangdowooriglobal.com.
Later, my neighbor also went in for digestive issues and saw a specialist right away. No referral was needed, and she was impressed by how fast the whole process was. It’s been our go-to clinic for direct, efficient care.
When my cousin was in Seoul, she needed to see a specialist for her thyroid concerns. We reached out to Cloud Hospital for help, and they connected her with Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine. She was unsure if she needed a referral from a general practitioner first, but the team at Cloud Hospital explained that in Korea, you can often book directly with a specialist without going through a GP, especially at private clinics like Sangdo Woori.
When she met Dr. Yoo Du-yeol, he confirmed that their system allows patients to schedule directly with specialists for most conditions. This saved her time and let her get the care she needed faster. However, he also mentioned that for certain cases covered under national health insurance, a referral might still be required for university or large public hospitals. But for international patients or those paying out of pocket, direct access to specialists is very common in Korea.
Yes, you do not require a referral to see a specialist at Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine. In my own experience, I was able to consult Dr. Yoo Du-yeol immediately without first seeing a general practitioner after scheduling an appointment with him for a chronic fatigue problem. The doctor took his time to thoroughly explain everything, the staff was friendly and the clinic was extremely well-organized. I was truly taken care of. If you want professional, direct access to knowledgeable care, I heartily recommend Sangdo Woori Internal Medicine.