The number of foreign patients who visited Korea last year topped 2 million, the most on record. Three out of four foreign patients received plastic surgery or dermatology care. By nationality, China accounted for the most.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 24th, the number of foreign patients who visited Korea last year was 2,011,822. That was up 72% from 2024 (1,170,467). These were foreign patients who do not reside in Korea. They received care without being enrolled in the national health insurance or listed as dependents.
Hospitals have been allowed to attract foreign patients since 2009. The number of foreign patients increased from 60,201 in that year to 497,467 in 2019. The outbreak of COVID-19 reduced foreign patient numbers, which then steadily rose from 2022. From 2009 through last year, the cumulative number of foreign patients who visited Korea was 7,059,631.
By nationality, visitors came to Korea from 201 countries last year. Chinese patients were the largest group at 30.8%. They were followed by Japan (29.8%), Taiwan (9.2%), the United States (8.6%), Thailand (2.9%), Singapore (2.1%), and Mongolia (1.8%). A Health Ministry official said, "In particular, patients from China and Taiwan increased from a year earlier," and noted, "China's visa-free policy, expanded flights, and a recovery in tourism demand appear to have worked in combination."
By medical department, dermatology accounted for the most at 62.9%. It was followed by plastic surgery (11.2%), internal medicine combined (9.2%), and health screening centers (3.1%). By region, Seoul attracted the most foreign patients at 1.76 million (87.2%). That is seen as due to dermatology and plastic surgery clinics being concentrated in Seoul and the city's transportation and tourism infrastructure. Next were Busan (3.8%), Gyeonggi (2.7%), Jeju (2.3%), and Incheon (1.3%).
According to the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade (KIET), medical tourism expenditure by 2.01 million foreign patients and their companions last year was 12.5 trillion won. Medical expenditure was 3.3 trillion won. A Health Ministry official said, "Refunds of value-added tax on beauty and plastic surgery and the spread of the Korean Wave, including K-pop and K-beauty, appear to be key growth drivers."