Is Korean Medicine Acupuncture Painful? Barrrjung Seoul

At Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital, one Jeongan acupuncture session uses about 150–200 needles and takes about 1 hour, and the hospital says pain or swelling may appear after the needles, with details explained before treatment. Pharmacopuncture (neutral and bamboo salt) is ₩10,000–30,000 per injection, with no tax or validity period shown. The doctor decides which needles and how many sessions.

What Do People Afraid of Needles Worry About?

Treatment for facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy) and facial asymmetry mostly involves "needles". If you are afraid of pain or needles, it is reassuring to understand the hospital's published explanation before deciding whether to fly to Korea.

This article summarizes the needle treatments at Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital (바를정한방병원) and what you can ask the doctor before treatment.

Jeongan Acupuncture: About 150–200 Needles, About 1 Hour

The hospital explains that one Jeongan acupuncture session uses about 150–200 needles and takes about 1 hour. It is one of the main treatments for facial nerve palsy, combined with pharmacopuncture, thread therapy, herbal medicine and neuro-electric manual therapy according to your condition.

On pain, the hospital says: pain or swelling may appear after the needles, with details explained before treatment. In other words, it neither guarantees nor denies that it hurts or how much; it varies by person, so ask the doctor before treatment.

The price of Jeongan acupuncture is not on the published self-pay price list; please confirm at your consultation.

Pharmacopuncture: ₩10,000–30,000 per Injection

The pharmacopuncture price list is as follows:

• Pharmacopuncture (neutral and bamboo salt): ₩10,000–30,000 per injection.
• Therapeutic thread (standard): ₩5,000 per thread, minimum 2 threads per session.

The price is a range, and the actual amount depends on the type and number of injections. The list does not show tax (VAT) or a validity period.

The hospital's information does not explain the difference between pharmacopuncture and Jeongan acupuncture, so ask the doctor at your consultation rather than assuming.

What Should You Ask the Doctor Before Treatment?

• What pain or swelling might appear after the needles, as the hospital explains before treatment
• How long one session takes (Jeongan acupuncture is about 1 hour)
• Whether it is combined with pharmacopuncture or thread therapy, which the doctor decides according to your condition
• What to watch in daily life after treatment, to be clarified before you fly home

If you are especially afraid of pain, tell us your concern when you book and we will pass it on to the hospital.

Examination First, Then Deciding the Treatment

The hospital does not start with needles right away. At the first visit it takes your history, then confirms the cause by pulse diagnosis, palpation, and imaging and ultrasound, and distinguishes peripheral from central palsy before making a treatment plan.

The medical team is 7 doctors, Korean medicine doctors and Western medicine doctors (obstetrics and gynecology specialists). The representative director, Jeong In-ho (정인호), is president of the Korean Society of Facial Medicine and president of the Bell's Palsy Research Society.

So how the needles are placed and how many sessions are decided after examination. The number and interval of sessions follow the doctor's judgment, so tell us how many days you can stay in Korea.

What Should You Prepare in Advance?

• Your medical records from home, and MRI or CT images (disc or files)
• The onset date and how your symptoms have changed
• Medication you take, especially blood thinners and steroids

Weekdays 09:00–20:00 (lunch break 13:00–14:00); Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 09:00–15:00. The nearest station is Sinnaebang Station (Line 2).

All Called "Needles": How Do the Names Differ?

Three needle-related names appear on the hospital's menu: Jeongan acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and thread acupuncture. They are easy to confuse.

• Jeongan acupuncture: one of the treatments for facial nerve palsy, about 150–200 needles and about 1 hour.
• Pharmacopuncture: priced per injection on the list (neutral and bamboo salt, ₩10,000–30,000).
• Thread (acupuncture): priced per thread on the list, and listed as balancing tuina and thread acupuncture on the facial asymmetry menu.

The hospital's information does not explain the mechanism and indications of each, so we summarize only what is written. On the day, the doctor decides how to combine them according to your condition.

If needle treatment makes you anxious, you can talk it over at the consultation stage; you do not need to decide on the spot.

Common Questions from International Visitors

Q: Can I tell the doctor I am afraid of pain?
A: Yes. The hospital explains the details before treatment, so raise your concerns at the consultation.

Q: How many days do I need to stay to finish?
A: The number of sessions and intervals depend on the examination. Tell us your length of stay when you book; you can also ask about admission (65 beds).

Book Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital Through K-Clinic

Through K-Clinic, you get a free consultation in your language, so you do not need to contact the hospital in Korean yourself. We will check with the hospital:

• The needle treatments suited to your symptoms and the approximate number of sessions
• Fees for items not on the list, such as Jeongan acupuncture
• Available appointment times

Use the "Request booking" button or the live chat. Once the booking is made, we will send you your appointment time and the address.

The actual treatment and number of sessions depend on the examination results.

Clinics in this article

Barrrjung Korean Medicine HospitalSeoul・Korean medicine・Facial nerves
Sindaebang Station (Line 2)