Immunology in Seoul

Immunology is the branch of medical and biological sciences that focuses on the immune system, which is the system involved in defending the body from infection. Medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing health conditions that affect the immune system are called immunologists. Some of the immune-related conditions that immunologists may help diagnose and treat are as follows:

• Allergic conjunctivitis
• Allergic rhinitis
• Anaphylaxis
• Autoimmune disorders
• Autoinflammatory syndromes
• Asthma
• Atopic dermatitis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• CREST syndrome
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Primary immunodeficiency diseases
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma
• Sjogren's syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Urticaria.

In some cases, immunologists also provide support for the diagnosis and management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other systemic/severe infections, tuberculosis, and multiple sclerosis. 

A wide range of tests and procedures are performed by immunologists to identify and treat immune conditions, including:

• Patch tests to identify specific substances that cause allergic skin reactions.
• Antibody tests to measure the levels of antibodies present in the blood. This test is performed to diagnose allergies and immunodeficiency conditions.
• Skin prick test to detect specific immediate allergies to food and environmental triggers.
• T cell tests to evaluate a person’s T cell activity, which is specialized immune cells in the blood.

Treatment for immune diseases usually involves the administration of medications, such as steroids or other immunosuppressant medications, and general surgery or transplantation, such as stem cell transplantation. 

How Long Should I Stay in Seoul?

Tests and treatments conducted by immunologists are largely outpatient-based, meaning you do not need to stay in the hospital after your appointment. However, you may need to stay in Seoul for a few days for follow-up checkups, usually to discuss the results of the test or to see how you are responding to treatments.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

In most cases, no recovery time is needed after the appointment with your immunologist. However, depending on your condition and the symptoms you are experiencing, your immunologist may advise you to rest and take some time off work until you do not experience any symptoms that interfere with your ability to perform your daily activities.

What Aftercare is Required?

Since treatments and management of immune diseases typically involve medications, it is important that you take the medications as prescribed by your immunologist. You will likely be given a set of instructions, which may include diet and activity restrictions. It is important that you follow all of the instructions to prevent complications. You may also need to attend regular checkups, but you can choose to have them with your local doctor instead of your immunologist in Seoul if you prefer. In some cases, supportive treatments, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and podiatry may be recommended.

What's the Success Rate?

Immunology research is constantly being conducted to increase the understanding of how the immune systems work and to develop better ways of diagnosing and treating immunological conditions. While there is currently no cure for many immune diseases, such as allergy and autoimmune disease, treatments are proven to be highly successful and safe to control the disease and manage the symptoms. 

Are there Alternatives?

In most cases, you need to see an immunologist for immune-disease. However, depending on the type of disease you have, you may be able to see other specialists or your immunologist may refer you to the relevant specialist. For example, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may be referred to a rheumatologist.

Immunology in and around Seoul

About Seoul

Seoul is the capital city of South Korea and is one of the most affluent cities in Asia with high per capita income. Seoul is a city of differences as you can find anything from ancient monuments and palaces to modern skyscrapers. Every year the city attracts over 10 million tourists from different parts of the world. While some visit Seoul to enjoy its rich culture, others come to experience the fascinating metropolitan vibe, large numbers of medical tourists visit this busy city to undergo various medical procedures for cheaper prices and to enjoy the Korean hospitality. As per reports from the South Korean Ministry of Health & Welfare, the number of medical tourists in 2016 increased to 364,000, which is 23% more than in 2015. Some of the more popular procedures sought-after in Seoul are gynecology related treatments, stem cell therapy, treatments in neurology & endocrinology, laser treatments, transplants, and cardiology.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, most medical tourists are from China, Uzbekistan, UAE, Japan, and Canada. Seoul is dynamically emerging as one of the most preferred destinations for medical tourism. The city proudly houses one JCI accredited hospital. The other top-rated medical hospitals include the Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, MizMedi Women's Hospital. The world-class hospitals comprise of VIP rooms, exceptional medical facilities, and highly-reputed physicians. Doctors are fluent in English, Korean, Japanese, and French.

Popular Areas in Seoul

The beautiful River Han flows through the heart of the city. It divides Seoul into North and South and you will find most of the ancient palaces and historical sites in the North. The Southside is quite modern and trendy with neighborhoods like Gangnam which is also the business hub of the city. It is also the residential part of the city with many apartments, and shopping malls.

• River Han: Is the favorite location for both locals and tourists. Here, you can enjoy indulging in exciting water activities such as windsurfing, water skiing, fishing, sailing, and swimming. The banks of the river are the perfect place to lounge and see the lights of the city at night.
• Banpo Bridge: Connects the districts Seocho and Yongsan and It was the first double-deck bridge built in South Korea and is covered with 10000 lights and the  Rainbow Fountain's colored water rains down the side of the bridge.
• Gangnam: It is the most trendy neighborhood and is home to Asia's largest shopping mall, COEX, and several high-end restaurants.
• Hongdae: Four Korean Universities lie close to the neighborhood. Hongdae houses a number of theme-based restaurants and an array of boutiques that cater to the needs of college-goers. Several music venues and glitzy nightclubs make it a perfect place to enjoy the vibrant nightlife.
• Myeongdong: Is the best and the largest shopping destination in Korea. It is a shopping mega where you can find clothes, cosmetics, stylish handbags, shoes and accessories, and Jewelry at affordable prices.

Weather and Climate in Seoul

As Seoul lies close to the coast of the Yellow Sea, the climate is continental. Summer and Winter are the two distinct seasons in Seoul. Summer is sultry, hot, and rainy, whereas winter is cold and sunny. The transitional periods are the spring and autumn, which are mild and pleasant.

1. Winter: November to February. The average temperature is around 0°C during winter. The cold air blows in from Asia and during the night time, the temperature can drop to -20°C but it rarely snows during winter.
2. Spring: March to May. Spring is mild and it rains occasionally.
3. Summer: June to August. Seoul receives about 80 mm of rainfall during the summer season. July is the wettest month of the year. The temperature can rise to 35°C during the hot summer days.
4. Autumn: September-October. Autumn is pleasant and rainfall gradually decreases during these months.

Getting around in Seoul

Incheon International Airport lies 48 km west of Seoul. It is the largest in the country and one of the busiest airports in the world. The airport is luxurious with an ice-skating rink, casinos, and spas. The airport operates several domestic and international flights to varied parts of the world.

Seoul has one of the finest public transportation systems in the world.

• Seoul Metropolitan subway: It is the fastest and cheapest mode of transportation. There is a total of 22 lines in operation and it costs 0.44$ for a single journey. You can buy tickets at the vending machines found in all subway stations.
• Seoul public buses: There are four different types of buses running in Seoul, each one covering different routes. The cost varies from 0.92$ to $1.63, depending on the bus type and the distance traveled.
• Taxis: Are expensive and are ideal for a large group of people. Regular, deluxe, jumbo, and International taxis are available. The major differences being the size and fare.

Tourist visa in Seoul

South Korea exempts the citizens of 117 countries from obtaining a valid tourist visa to enter the country. Australia, Chile, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Switzerland, UK, US are some of the visa-exempted countries. They can stay visa-free for a maximum of 90 days.

Citizens of countries like India, China needs to apply for a tourist visa with all the required documents. The visa fee comes to around $30.

Additional Information

1. The official currency of South Korea is the Korean Republican Won (KRW). One US dollar is approximately equivalent to 1149 KRW.
2. You can find ATMs across the City. Some accept foreign cards and dispense cash. You can exchange your currencies to KRW in banks and money exchange booths.
3. Hangul is the national and official language of South Korea. Koreans who are under the age of 40 years understand and speak English better than the rest of the locals.
4. Most people in Korea are not affiliated with any religion. The same holds true in Seoul. Though, a small number of people practice Confucianism and Buddhism.
5. Some of the public holidays in Seoul include New Year's Eve, Korean New Year, Buddha's birthday, Constitution day, Harvest festival, Hangeul day and Christmas.