Korea's medical and beauty travel

Korea welcomed 2,011,822 international patients in 2025, up 71.9% on the year before, from 201 countries.

• 2.72 million patient visits in 2025, and 7.06 million patients in total since 2009 (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2026-04-24).
• Leading countries: China 618,973, Japan 600,009, Taiwan 185,715, United States 173,363 (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2026-04-24).

Dermatology accounted for 62.9% of international patient visits in 2025 (1.313 million, by-department count; one patient may visit several departments).

• Plastic surgery followed at 11.2% (233,000) and internal medicine at 9.2% (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2026-04-24).

87.2% of international patients were treated in Seoul in 2025, about 1.76 million people.

• Busan 3.8% and Jeju 2.3%, both growing fast (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2026-04-24).
• 87.7% of international patients used clinic-level (outpatient) institutions (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2026-04-24).

15.05 million international visitors came to Korea from January to August 2026, up 21.6% year on year.

• Tourism card spending over the same period reached KRW 14.018 trillion, up 48.5% (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 2026-09-28).

Korean cosmetics exports reached USD 11.4 billion in 2025, up 11.8%, making Korea the world's second-largest exporter after France.

• Final 2025 figures from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, announced 2026-05-22 (korea.net).

International patients spent KRW 1.42 trillion by card at medical providers in the first half of 2026, up 38.6%.

• Dermatology spending rose 49.5% to KRW 768.5 billion; the average medical payment was KRW 938,000 (KHIDI and Hana Card analysis, reported 2026-08-27).
• This analysis covers one card issuer and is not directly comparable with other card datasets.

Several rules affecting visitors changed in 2025 and 2026.

• The VAT refund scheme for cosmetic procedures for foreign visitors ended on 31 December 2025. Bills to reinstate it are pending (Newsis, 2025-07-31).
• The temporary K-ETA exemption for eligible countries runs to 31 December 2026. An exemption does not guarantee entry (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025-12-29).
• Telemedicine for international patients by registered institutions takes effect one year after promulgation, expected in late May 2027 (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2026-05-26).
• 112 institutions are designated by the Ministry of Justice for faster medical e-visas, in about three days, from 2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30 (Aju Business Daily, 2026-09-21).

A busier market rewards careful preparation.

• Choose registered clinics and facilitators, and ask for their registration number.
• Ask for a written estimate, contract and risk information in your language before you book.
• Plan flight timing with your doctor; guidance cited by the US CDC suggests 7 to 10 days after laser and facial procedures (CDC Yellow Book, 2025-04-23).
• Budget on the basis that cosmetic procedures no longer qualify for a VAT refund.
• Check your entry requirements, including K-ETA, before you travel.
• Keep your English records and receipts for aftercare at home.