Sending Flowers to a Hospital or Hotel in Korea
By Flower Delivery in Korea · Updated
Short answer: many Korean hospitals do not allow fresh flowers in wards, so check with the patient first or send them home. Hospital funeral halls are different and accept wreaths. For a hotel, address the flowers to the guest's reservation name and deliver on or after check-in.
Hospitals: check the ward rules first
Korean hospitals increasingly restrict fresh flowers and potted plants in patient areas. Pollen, soil and standing water can carry infection risks for vulnerable patients. The rules differ by hospital and by ward, and they are strictest in these places:
- Intensive care units (중환자실)
- Cancer, transplant and isolation wards
- Maternity and newborn units
A delivery that the ward refuses cannot be left with the patient. Before you order:
- Ask the patient or a family member whether flowers are allowed in their room.
- If they are not, send a flower basket to the family's home, timed for the patient's return.
- If they are, include the hospital name, building, ward and room number (병동/호실) and the patient's name. A recipient phone number helps the driver hand the flowers over.
New mothers and postpartum care centres
After giving birth, many Korean mothers stay one to two weeks in a postpartum care centre (산후조리원). These centres usually limit visitors and deliveries to protect the babies. The usual approach is to send flowers to the family home for their return. You can also ask the centre whether it accepts deliveries at the front desk.
Hospital funeral halls are a separate case
Most Korean funerals take place in the funeral hall (장례식장) run by a hospital. It is a separate building or floor, and standing condolence wreaths are expected there. Use the funeral hall's name and the memorial room number (빈소 호실) from the obituary notice. See how to send funeral flowers.
Hotels
- Address: the hotel's name and street address.
- Address detail: "Guest: [full name as on the reservation], check-in [date]". Add the room number only if you are sure of it.
- Date: on or after the check-in date, since hotels may not hold deliveries for guests who have not arrived.
- Phone: the guest's mobile number, or the hotel's front desk number.
- What to send: a bouquet ($63–$259) is easy for a guest to carry, and a basket ($70–$110) needs no vase.
Offices and apartments
- Office: the company name, building and floor. Choose a weekday during office hours.
- Apartment: the complex name plus the building (동) and unit (호) numbers, for example "Raemian Apt 101-dong 1203-ho". Korean apartment addresses are hard to find without the 동 and 호.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send flowers to a hospital in Korea?
Often not to the ward itself. Many Korean hospitals do not allow fresh flowers or potted plants in patient rooms, especially in intensive care, cancer and maternity units, because of infection control. Ask the patient or family first, or send the flowers to their home.
Can I send flowers to a postpartum care centre (산후조리원)?
Postpartum care centres usually restrict visitors and deliveries to protect newborns. Send flowers to the family's home for when they return, or check with the centre first.
Is a hospital funeral hall different from the hospital?
Yes. The funeral hall (장례식장) is a separate building or floor, and condolence wreaths are welcome there. Use the funeral hall name and memorial room number, not the hospital ward.
How do I send flowers to a hotel guest in Korea?
Use the hotel's name and address, and put the guest's full name exactly as on the reservation plus the check-in date in the address detail. Choose a delivery date on or after check-in. Add a room number only if you know it.