The following blog post is for both adults and children who need ADHD assessments while living in South Korea. We will discuss the terms you need to find an assessment location near you, paths to ADHD assessment, how the assessment works, cost for different types of assessments, and social issues around being assessed. This blog post includes both online research and the lived experiences of international residents seeking treatment in South Korea.
About ADHD Assessments in South Korea
Despite what you may see represented in many English language posts, Korea has become increasingly interested in ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) diagnosis and treatments. In fact, South Korea’s cultural awareness of mental health issues continues to grow each year. While ADHD assessments were once primarily for children, there is now recognition of ADHD in adults, prompting a rise in demand for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Recent Research in ADHD in Korea
Over the last decade, research on ADHD in Korea by Korean researchers has advanced dramatically. That’s because South Korea becomes increasingly focused on mental health every year. In fact, studies published by universities like Yonsei University and Seoul National University have explored ADHD in both children and adults, examining not only diagnosis and treatment but also cultural factors that may affect the recognition of ADHD in Korea.
One notable study highlighted that ADHD diagnosis rates in Korea have risen in recent years, but there is still underdiagnosis, particularly in adults. Much like in the United States, the stigma associated with mental health has led to late diagnoses in many individuals.
Researchers are also investigating how ADHD symptoms manifest differently in Korea compared to Western countries. For instance, one study found that Korean children with ADHD are less likely to display hyperactivity and more likely to experience difficulty with attention and academic performance.
This means you can feel comfortable seeking and ADHD assessment while living in South Korea. Assessment and treatment are available and supported by insurance. Remember, just like all countries around the world, care varies around the country so take time to find the right assessment clinic for your needs. Here is a guide to help you get started.
About this ADHD Assessment Guide
In this guide, South of Seoul will walk you through the process of getting assessed for ADHD in Korea. The guide works for both adults and children. The South of Seoul guide does not represent medical advice regarding ADHD. It’s simply a documentation of experiences by English-speaking international residents in South Korea seeking ADHD diagnosis.
Recognizing ADHD Symptoms
Whether you’re an expat or a Korean national, the first step is understanding the symptoms of ADHD, which include difficulty focusing, impulsivity, restlessness, and difficulty completing tasks. ADHD can present differently in children versus adults, and this is crucial when seeking help. In adults, for instance, ADHD may manifest more as difficulty managing time, forgetfulness, or constant procrastination.
Possible Locations Offering ADHD Assessment
If you recognize ADHD, now it’s time to find a place to get a diagnosis. In South Korea, ADHD is generally diagnosed by psychiatrists (정신과 의사). However, some larger hospitals may have specialized departments focused on neurodevelopmental or behavioral conditions. Here’s how to navigate the system:
Large General Hospitals (대형 병원)
If you prefer an institutional setting, major university hospitals like Seoul National University Hospital or Asan Medical Center have psychiatry departments where ADHD assessments are conducted. You may need to get a referral from a general physician (내과) first in order for it to cost less or get an appointment faster. We do not like this choice because large hospitals exist too far from home, tend to cost more, and have longer wait times.
Local Psychiatric Clinics (정신건강의학과 의원)
Don’t have time to go to Seoul and want your doctor near your home? There are many smaller psychiatric clinics across Korea where patients can get ADHD assessments. Search for “ADHD 진단” (ADHD diagnosis) or “성인 ADHD” (adult ADHD) to find local providers, particularly if you’re looking for an English-speaking doctor. We highly recommend starting here. In fact, searching 성인 ADHD on Naver blogs helped us find clinics for our South of Seoul community volunteer to try.
Pediatric Clinics for Children
For children, developmental pediatricians (소아청소년과) and child psychologists (아동심리상담사) may provide the initial assessments. They often conduct psychological tests and observations to confirm ADHD in younger patients.
More Specific Search Terms
If you need even more specific search terms, you can try some of the following.
Search Terms for ADHD Assessment for Adults
- 성인 ADHD 증상 – Adult ADHD symptoms
- 성인 ADHD 클리닉 – Adult ADHD clinic
- ADHD 정신과 – ADHD psychiatrist
- 성인 ADHD 검사 – Adult ADHD test
- 성인 ADHD 진단 – Adult ADHD diagnosis
Search Terms for ADHD Assessment for Children
- 아동 ADHD 증상 – Child ADHD symptoms
- 아동 ADHD 검사 – Child ADHD test
- 아동 ADHD 진단 – Child ADHD diagnosis
- ADHD 소아청소년과 – ADHD pediatric department
- ADHD 아동 심리 상담 – ADHD child psychology counseling
Researching Clinics
Choosing a clinic might exist as the most stressful part of the ADHD assessment process. Of course, the clinics websites are not in English. Our volunteers used the Google Translate extension in Chrome to translate the websites into English and find the best option for our needs. We found clinics that mentioned English consultations possible. Keep in mind, this was written in Korean on the site.
We will not gaslight you that finding an ADHD assessment location feels easy or fun. You will feel a lot of stress so consider finding a friend to go with you. It could be that you need to try a few clinics until you find a good fit. Just keep going. You can do it. Our volunteer was very lucky and liked the first clinic she went to.
The ADHD Diagnosis Process
Our South of Seoul community volunteer used the information in this guide to get an ADHD diagnosis using Korean National Insurance. The following steps represent their lived experience seeking ADHD treatment. You may experience slightly different steps depending on the clinic or hospital you visit. Keep in mind that your experiences may differ.
Possible Steps in Your ADHD Assessment Process
Based on our research on Naver blogs, reading various clinic information on ADHD, and listening to lived experiences we created a list of possible elements you might experience during an ADHD test at a Korean Psyciatric Clinic in South Korea. The following elements could occur in any order and generally occur across 1 or 2 visits.
- Initial Consultation: During the first visit, the doctor may ask about your symptoms and medical history, along with any history of ADHD in the family. Be prepared to discuss your challenges in daily life, work, or school.
- Behavioral Questionnaires: Such as the Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) for adults or the ADHD Rating Scale-IV for children.
- Interviews: Parents or spouses may be interviewed for children and adults respectively to provide additional insight into the patient’s behavior.
- Neuropsychological Tests: Some hospitals may conduct tests to assess cognitive functions like attention span and working memory.
- Brain Scans: Some facilities may scan your brain looking for delta v. alpha waves.
- Listening Assessment: You may have a listening portion to your assessment process where you have to isolate sounds.
Lived Experience of Adult Female Seeking ADHD Assessment
For our South of Seoul’s community volunteer, they visited a Korean Psychiatric Clinic in Pyeongtaek-si. They documented their experience and shared it with SOS Public Health. Their ADHD assessment included the following elements:
- Visited a local Psychiatric Clinic that advertised adult ADHD assessments on Naver: Walk-in with no appointment.
- Asked the front desk how to get an adult ADHD assessment: The staff did not speak English so Papago ‘Conversation’ feature was used for translation.
- Seated immediately for the intake: The form was in Korean but easily translated and completed using the Papago app. Completed form in English.
- Next, completed an online ADHD questionnaire: The questionnaire was in English but they let her use the Papago app for translation. She said it translated well and she felt comfortable answering questions.
- Completed a brain scan testing for Delta waves: Apparently, ADHD brains have higher Delta waves
- Met with the Doctor for a consultation: The Doctor spoke English. The Doctor walked her through all the results and provided her with a great deal of documentation from the testing.
- ADHD Medication issued: She was given 1 week of medication and told to come back next week to assess medication’s impact and adjust as needed.
- Paid for Assessment: 150,000 KRW with Korean NHIS.
- Paid for 1 week of Medication: 10,000 KRW with Korean NHIS.
The entire process of their adult ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and medication took 1 visit that lasted about 2 hours. It cost 150,000 KRW with NHIS.
Alternative US Style Assessment Route
If you have foreign insurance, specifically insurance from the United States, you can find US style ADHD assessments at locations near US Military bases. Specifically near Camp Humphreys. Such assessments cost around 3,500,000 or 5,000,000 KRW. However, medication can’t be prescribed at such locations. Depending on your insurance, some of the cost may be covered by your insurance.
More About ADHD in South Korea
We’ve also completed a number of other articles about ADHD in South Korea. Read them here:
- Cost of ADHD Assessments in Korea
- Types of ADHD Treatments in Korea
- Apps for ADHD in Korean and English
Founded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences.
