Medical tourism in South Korea - statistics & facts
South Korea is one of the most popular medical tourism destinations in the world. The country has been actively attracting foreign patients with advanced medical technologies and services during the past decade. As of 2023, the cumulative number of patients who visited Korea for medical purposes stood at around 3.9 million, with such services growing in popularity. Additionally, the increasing popularity of South Korean pop culture abroad, a phenomenon also known as "hallyu," has led to an increase in the number of tourists visiting Korea.
Overall, the vast majority of medical tourists reported that they were highly satisfied with their experiences with medical services in South Korea, and that they were willing to revisit for medical treatment or recommend it to others. As a destination for both cosmetic and non-cosmetic diagnostics and treatments, the medical industry is able to offer a diverse array of medical services to international patients. This lays a good foundation for the continued popularity of South Korea as a destination for medical tourism.
Increased medical interest in South Korea worldwide
Prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, record numbers of medical tourists from 190 countries visited South Korea. As of 2023, patient numbers have not just returned to pre-pandemic figures, but actually exceeded them, marking a new record for the country. Among them, visitors from Japan and China accounted for almost half of international patients coming to South Korea. A decade ago, the U.S. and Japan accounted for about half, but the nationality distribution of patients is becoming more and more diverse. In fact, the number of patients from Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam as well as northern countries, including Mongolia and Kazakhstan, has been steadily increasing. In contrast, the number of patients from Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, has slightly decreased in recent years.Regional differences in treatments sought
The most visited medical department among foreign patients in Korea was the dermatology department, followed by plastic surgery, and internal medicine. The preferred medical treatments to receive in Korea differ from patients' region of origin. Patients from Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Thailand mostly visited Korea for cosmetic purposes such as plastic surgery and dermatology. With the surge in popularity of K-beauty and Korean singers and actors, this aligns with the impact of hallyu on the tourism sector in Korea. On the other hand, many visitors from the United States, Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan visited Korea for non-cosmetic treatment purposes, such as visiting an internal medicine practice or health checkup center.Overall, the vast majority of medical tourists reported that they were highly satisfied with their experiences with medical services in South Korea, and that they were willing to revisit for medical treatment or recommend it to others. As a destination for both cosmetic and non-cosmetic diagnostics and treatments, the medical industry is able to offer a diverse array of medical services to international patients. This lays a good foundation for the continued popularity of South Korea as a destination for medical tourism.
