Among foreign tourists, demand is growing for "medical tourism," which includes medical services such as plastic surgery and dermatology in Korea travel itineraries. However, domestic travel platforms that handle consolidation of inbound tourists have not yet stepped into this market.
Many travel platforms hold the status of simple non-life insurance agency to sell travel insurance, because the current Medical Service Act bans the insurance industry from attracting foreign patients. The industry worries that, while domestic platforms are tied up by regulations, overseas agencies and illegal brokers could cement a structure that absorbs demand for medical tourism in Korea.
According to related industry sources on the 19th, travel platform My Real Trip is preparing to launch "VewVew," a medical and beauty service for foreigners. It applied for a trademark in Dec. last year, registering medical and beauty information services and aesthetic booking software as designated goods. Recently, it also opened a website posting procedure information and hospital introductions for foreign tourists.
This move is seen as targeting the surging demand for medical tourism. According to the Korea Tourism Data Lab, foreigners' medical consumption last year was 2.0797 trillion won, up 65.3% from the previous year (1.2584 trillion won). The Ministry of Health and Welfare's tally shows about 1.17 million foreign patients visited domestic medical institutions in 2024, 1.9 times the previous year (610,000). While last year's figure has not yet been released, it is estimated to have increased sharply, as inbound tourist numbers hit an all-time high.
That said, the industry believes it will be difficult for My Real Trip to fully pursue a business in the form of "medical tourism brokerage" that consolidations foreign tourists to domestic medical institutions, due to potential illegality. Article 27, Paragraph 4 of the Medical Service Act states, "An insurance company, mutual company, insurance solicitor, insurance agent, or insurance broker under Article 2 of the Insurance Business Act shall not engage in activities to attract foreign patients."
My Real Trip is not a full-time insurer, but it obtained the status of "simple non-life insurance agency" in 2022. A simple non-life insurance agency refers to a company that has another main business and solicits only insurance products related to that main business. Typically, travel platforms hold this status to improve convenience in subscribing to small, simple-coverage products such as travel insurance and flight delay insurance during flight and tour payments.
A My Real Trip official said, "We are carefully reviewing possible business structures and operating methods while fully examining the intent and scope of application of relevant laws and regulations," adding, "We plan to decide step by step on whether to expand the business and on specific operating methods while continuously reviewing the regulatory environment and interpretations."
The provision banning the insurance industry from attracting foreign patients was introduced in 2009. At the time, there were major concerns that insurance capital could directly intervene in the medical market, steering patients to specific medical institutions or encouraging overtreatment.
However, 17 years on, the industry and political circles argue that the regulation no longer adequately reflects the changed medical tourism market environment. With a clear trend of foreigners visiting Korea primarily for medical procedures, travel platforms widely used during entry should be able to provide reliable medical brokerage services.
Jang Jong-tae, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea on the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly, said last year, "The current Medical Service Act has created a structure where you cannot do business if you follow the law, and you must break the law to do business. If this situation continues, it could ultimately drive the industry into the shadows." The government also hinted at possible deregulation. Minister Jung Eun-kyeong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare said at last year's National Assembly audit regarding regulation of the medical tourism industry, "We will review whether there are areas to supplement and gather opinions."
The industry believes that if medical and beauty booking services linked to air and lodging become possible, it could boost the gross transaction amount and strengthen the lock-in effect of the platform. For tourists, the platforms' data capabilities could reduce information gaps that arise when choosing hospitals and also make itinerary adjustments more efficient.
There is also concern that, while domestic platforms are blocked by regulation, overseas agencies and illegal brokers are cementing a structure that directly connects Korean hospitals and clinics with foreign demand. An industry official said, "Rather than uniformly regulating medical tourism brokerage, we need to move toward finely crafting management standards that can ensure safety and transparency."