The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 4th that the number of foreign medical tourists who visited Seoul last year reached 999,642, the highest ever recorded. This is approximately 2.1 times more than the previous year (473,340), and more than three times the number before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 (320,284).
Based on last year, the total number of foreign patients visiting Korea was 1,170,467. Among them, 999,642 foreign patients utilized medical institutions in Seoul. About 8 out of 10 foreign patients entering the country used medical facilities in Seoul.
The total medical expenses paid by these patients at Seoul's medical institutions last year were recorded at 1.2 trillion won, accounting for 85.7% of the national payment total of 1.4 trillion won.
The main medical departments for foreign patients were dermatology with 665,382 patients (64.2%) being the most, followed by plastic surgery (131,541 patients, 12.7%) and internal medicine integration (81,181 patients, 7.8%).
By region within Seoul, Gangnam had the highest number with 377,073 patients. It was followed by Seocho (288,475 patients), Mapo (124,447 patients), Jung-gu (120,222 patients), and Songpa (15,511 patients).
Gang Jin-yong, head of the health and medical policy department of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "We will manage and expand support for patient attraction organizations to ensure that foreigners can safely and conveniently access medical services."