When my mother was going through a period of emotional stress during her visit to Seoul, she was referred to Ekdongmu Korean Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic through Cloud Hospital. One thing she noticed right away was how mental health in Korea is approached with more subtlety than in many Western countries. In Korean society, especially among older generations, mental health issues are often seen as something private or even shameful. As a result, many people avoid formal psychiatric clinics and instead turn to traditional Korean medicine, which is viewed as more socially acceptable. At Ekdongmu, the doctors Dr. Kim Seong-min, Dr. Seo Hee-yeon, and Dr. Lee Mi-je took a gentle, non-stigmatizing approach. Her care focused on balancing the body and calming the nervous system through acupuncture and herbal treatments, which felt emotionally therapeutic without being labeled as psychiatric treatment.
When I moved to Korea a few years ago for work, I struggled silently with anxiety. It wasn’t easy navigating mental health in a society where emotional expression is often kept private. In Korea, mental health has long carried a stigma seeking psychiatric help can sometimes be seen as a weakness or something shameful, especially among older generations.
Fortunately, clinics like Seoul Psychiatry Gangnam are changing the landscape. I found Dr. Paul J. Woo and Dr. Han-mil Choi to be incredibly understanding, offering care that balances Western psychiatric approaches with cultural sensitivity. Their clinic provides bilingual services, which made it easier for me to express myself. If you’re considering treatment in Korea, it’s important to choose a place that respects both your cultural background and the local context this clinic does just that.