2.01 million foreign patients came to Korea last year; 6 in 10 saw a dermatologist
There's now an official number for how big Korean medical tourism has become. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2.01 million foreign patients visited Korea in 2025, the first time the total passed 2 million since records began in 2009.
The key points:
- Growth: 610,000 in 2023 → 1.17 million in 2024 → 2.01 million in 2025
- Specialties: dermatology 62.9%, cosmetic surgery 11.2%, internal medicine 9.2%
- Countries: China and Japan together 60.6%, then Taiwan (9.2%), the US (8.6%) and Thailand
- Regions: Seoul 87.2%, though Busan (+151.5%) and Jeju (+114.7%) grew fast
With dermatology at that share, fitting skin care into a trip has clearly become a normal itinerary item.
That also means more to check. See whether the clinic is registered to take foreign patients, whether the person consulting you is a doctor, and what the quote includes. Whether a procedure suits you is always a question for a doctor.
Do you plan clinic visits into your Korea trips?
Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare — Foreign patients pass 2 million in 2025
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