K-ClinicFacial Palsy Treatment Korea: Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital
Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital in Sillim, Seoul treats facial palsy (drooping face), trigeminal neuralgia and facial asymmetry. Korean medicine doctors and Western medicine doctors examine you together to tell peripheral from central palsy, then combine Jeongan acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, thread therapy and herbal medicine. The hospital says early treatment strongly affects outcomes; recovery speed and degree vary by person.
Sudden Facial Drooping: Don't Self-Diagnose
You brush your teeth in the morning and water leaks from one corner of your mouth. In the mirror, one eye won't close fully. For many people, this is the first sign of facial palsy.
In Korea this condition is often called "구안와사" (mouth-and-eye deviation). Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital (바를정한방병원) in Seoul focuses on facial conditions such as facial palsy, trigeminal neuralgia and facial asymmetry.
This article explains how the hospital examines and treats patients, and what international visitors should prepare before coming.
Why Does the Hospital Stress Early Treatment for Facial Palsy?
The hospital's position is that treatment in the early stage after onset has a major effect on prognosis, so it recommends seeing a doctor as early as possible.
It is equally clear that recovery speed and degree vary by person. No one can tell you before examining you how many days it will take or how far you will recover.
For international visitors, that means two things:
- Don't wait until your schedule is free. Tell us your onset date through the live chat on this website so the hospital can decide how to arrange your visit.
- Don't trust anyone who guarantees a number of days. The number of sessions and the interval between them are decided only after the doctor sees you.
If you are already being treated in your home country, you don't need to stop. Organise your current medical records and bring them with you.
How Do Korean and Western Doctors Diagnose Facial Palsy Together?
A drooping face can have different causes. Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital uses joint Korean-Western medicine diagnosis: it confirms the cause first, then plans treatment.
The hospital says it uses pulse diagnosis, palpation, imaging and ultrasound to distinguish peripheral from central palsy before deciding the direction of treatment.
The medical team has 7 doctors, made up of Korean medicine doctors and Western medicine doctors (obstetrics and gynecology specialists). Representative director Dr. Jeong In-ho (정인호) is president of the Korean Society of Facial Medicine and president of the Facial Palsy Research Society, and wrote the book Cosmetic Acupuncture and Thread Needles.
The hospital is registered as an institution authorised to attract foreign patients.
What Is Jeongan Acupuncture? Treatment Options Explained
The hospital lists Jeongan acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, thread therapy and herbal medicine as its facial palsy treatments, plus manual therapy with nerve electrical stimulation. The doctor combines them according to your condition.
The one people ask about most is Jeongan acupuncture. The hospital says a session uses about 150–200 needles and takes about 1 hour. Pain or swelling may occur afterwards, and the details are explained before treatment.
If you are afraid of pain or worried about needles, say so when you book. There is nothing embarrassing about it, and the hospital needs to know in advance.
The hospital publishes a price for pharmacopuncture: neutral and bamboo-salt pharmacopuncture cost ₩10,000–30,000 per injection. Prices for other items, and fees not on the list such as consultation, tests and basic acupuncture, should be confirmed during your consultation.
The hospital's published price list does not state whether VAT is included or how long the prices apply. Actual treatment depends on the examination results.
How Many Days Do I Need in Korea for Facial Palsy Treatment?
This is where international visitors most often get stuck: the hospital gives no fixed number of days. The number of sessions and the interval between them are decided by the doctor after examination.
So the order should be reversed: tell the hospital your situation first, then book your return flight.
| What to tell the hospital first | Why |
|---|---|
| Onset date | The hospital says early treatment affects prognosis, so timing matters |
| How symptoms have changed | Better, worse or unchanged helps the doctor decide |
| How many days you can stay | To confirm whether your schedule is enough |
| Whether you would consider admission | The hospital has a 65-bed ward for intensive inpatient treatment |
The hospital is also open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 09:00 to 15:00 (no lunch break). On weekdays it is open 09:00–20:00 (lunch break 13:00–14:00). If you arrive in Seoul on a weekend, you can still be seen.
What Should I Bring Before Going?
The hospital recommends preparing three things:
- Medical records and imaging such as MRI and CT from your home country, on a disc or as files.
- Your onset date and how symptoms have changed, which you can simply write in your phone's notes.
- Medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants and steroids. Tell the hospital in advance.
Also bring your passport. Bring medication with its packaging or prescription, which is clearer than explaining verbally.
Where Is Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital?
The address is 1485 Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Samnam Building, floors 1, 7, 8 and 9 (서울 관악구 남부순환로 1485 삼남빌딩). The nearest subway station is Sinsingdaebang Station (Line 2).
Line 2 is Seoul's circular subway line, and you can reach it directly from areas where many visitors stay, such as Hongdae and Gangnam, without changing lines.
How Do I Book Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital Through K-Clinic?
With facial nerve problems, timing matters. If you want to go, book through K-Clinic with the "Request booking" button or the live chat on this website for a free consultation. You don't need to contact the hospital in Korean yourself.
Tell us your onset date, current symptoms, what tests you have had, and how many days you can stay in Korea. We will check with the hospital:
- Available appointment times (weekday or weekend)
- Whether your length of stay is enough, and whether to consider admission
- What format to bring your imaging records in
- Fees for consultation and tests not on the price list
Once your booking is complete, we will tell you the arrival time and address. Actual treatment depends on the examination results.
Frequently asked questions
How soon should I get facial palsy treatment in Korea?
As soon as possible. Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital says treatment in the early stage after onset has a major effect on prognosis. Recovery speed and degree vary by person.
What is Jeongan acupuncture for facial palsy, and does it hurt?
Jeongan acupuncture at Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital uses about 150–200 needles in a session of about 1 hour. Pain or swelling may occur afterwards, and the details are explained before treatment.
Can I get facial palsy treatment in Korea if I only stay a few days?
The number of sessions and the interval between them are decided by the doctor after examination. Tell the hospital your onset date and how many days you can stay so they can confirm whether your schedule is enough. You can also ask about inpatient admission.
How do I book Barrrjung Korean Medicine Hospital in Seoul?
Use the "Request booking" button on this website or the live chat for a free consultation. K-Clinic checks available time slots and whether your length of stay is enough with the hospital, then sends you the arrival time and address once the booking is complete.
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Sindaebang Station (Line 2)
