South Korea: Medical Tourism Surpasses 2 Million Foreign Visitors

Sunday 30 August 2026 - 10:13

South Korea confirms its status as a major destination for medical tourism. Over two million foreigners visited the country in 2025 for medical, dental, or surgical care, while spending related to this activity continues to rise, particularly in dermatology and aesthetic surgery.

Medicine is becoming a new driver of South Korea's international appeal. In 2025, the country welcomed 2.01 million foreign visitors seeking medical, dental, or surgical care, according to a report from the Korean Institute for Health Industry Development.

This figure marks a remarkable increase of 71.9% year-on-year, confirming the acceleration of a sector that now combines tourism, medical innovation, and aesthetic medicine.

China and Japan Lead Foreign Patient Numbers

Asian visitors represent a significant portion of this international clientele.

Chinese nationals rank first with approximately 618,000 patients, accounting for 30.8% of the total. They are closely followed by Japanese visitors, whose numbers reach about 600,000.

This strong presence from the two neighboring countries underscores the importance of geographical proximity in the development of Korean medical tourism, while also highlighting the attractiveness of the care offered in the country.

Significant Increase in Medical Spending

The rise in visitor numbers is accompanied by a marked increase in spending.

In July, foreign tourists spent 213.08 billion won, approximately 154.35 million dollars, in sectors related to medical tourism. This amount represents a 66.5% increase compared to July of the previous year.

The trend is sustainable: monthly spending has exceeded 200 billion won for five consecutive months, from March to July.

Thus, medical tourism is establishing itself as a significant economic activity, generating substantial revenue for healthcare facilities and the entire tourism ecosystem.

Dermatology Dominates Spending

Not all specialties benefit from this growth in the same proportions.

Dermatology clinics account for 54.9% of the spending recorded in July. They are followed by establishments specializing in aesthetic surgery, which represent 19.3% of expenditures.

Pharmacies come in third place with 12.9%.

This distribution highlights the significant role of dermatology and aesthetic care in South Korea's medical attractiveness to foreign visitors.

Seoul Accounts for Most Activity

The capital remains by far the main hub of medical tourism.

Seoul accounts for 86.8% of the spending made by foreign visitors in this sector. The city far surpasses Busan, which represents 6.4%, and Gyeonggi Province, with 3.7%.

This concentration reflects the capital's weight in specialized medical offerings, as well as its status as an international tourist destination.

A Sector Driven by a Strong Medical and Aesthetic Image

The growth of Korean medical tourism relies on several factors: the development of healthcare infrastructure, medical expertise, the international reputation of certain specialties, and the particular appeal of aesthetic medicine.

The growth recorded in 2025 shows that foreign visitors no longer view their stay in Korea solely from a tourism perspective. For a growing clientele, the trip can now combine country exploration with access to medical or aesthetic services.

With over two million visitors in a single year, South Korea now has a sufficiently large international market to make medical tourism one of the new pillars of its economic attractiveness.