As South Korea enters the era of 1 million foreign patients, its medical tourism industry is rapidly moving beyond skin care and cosmetic procedures into specialized treatment such as cancer care and infertility services. With demand rising for longer courses of care that run from diagnosis and surgery through recovery, hospitals say overall patient management — including language support, logistics and follow-up — is becoming a key measure of competitiveness. The government had set a goal of attracting 700,000 foreign patients by 2027, but the total already topped 1 million last year.
Industry officials said on the 16th that Korea’s medical tourism has long been driven by K-beauty, but more patients are now traveling to Korea for complex treatment, including cancer and infertility care.
Asan Medical Center said more than 19,000 foreign patients visited in 2024. Patients from the United States as well as the United Arab Emirates and Mongolia often request consultations in advance by email or messaging apps and send medical opinions from local doctors along with CT and MRI materials to prepare for care, a hospital official said.
The hospital’s International Healthcare Center has built an integrated online platform that links registration, uploading test materials, pre-consultations and telemedicine, allowing management to begin before patients arrive.
“More patients with serious illnesses are coming to Korea after setting treatment plans through remote care before entering the country,” an Asan Medical Center official said. Over the past five years, the hospital conducted more than 800 remote consultations for patients from 57 countries, many involving severe cases such as liver and pancreatic cancer, the official said.
Analysts say the shift toward serious disease treatment also reflects conditions overseas. In the United States, treatment costs are high, and many procedures are known to cost about 50% to 90% more than in Korea. In the United Kingdom, patients can wait months to see specialists.
By contrast, Korea is viewed as combining relatively lower costs with strong outcomes. In 2023, Korea’s treatable mortality rate — early deaths that could be avoided with timely, effective care — was 45 per 100,000 people, well below the OECD average of 77. Satisfaction with medical technology and facilities is also reflected in repeat demand: A Korea Health Industry Development Institute survey found 59.8% of foreign patients said they were willing to return.
Hospitals are also strengthening tailored services to attract overseas patients. With about 70% of foreign patients coming from nearby countries such as Japan, China and Taiwan, Magok CHA Hospital’s fertility center is cited as an example of improving convenience by leveraging its location near Gimpo Airport. For infertility patients who must return repeatedly to match treatment schedules, the “10-minute drive from the airport” is described as a key advantage.
The center has also set up a separate treatment area, Building B, for foreign patients, separating their routes from those of Korean patients. The hospital said it redesigned the care environment to reflect longer interpretation and consultation times. “We chose the location with accessibility in mind, and we operate specialized interpreters and a one-on-one consultation system,” a fertility center official said.
Seoul, where 85% of foreign patients are concentrated, is expanding policy support. The city plans to increase its pool of interpreter coordinators from 100 to 1,000 this year, broadening coverage beyond English, Chinese and Japanese to include less common languages such as Russian and Arabic. “Not only medical care but also interpretation and guidance can shape the patient experience,” a Seoul Tourism Organization official said, adding that trust built through those services can influence perceptions of Korea’s health care overall.
Seoul is also pushing to introduce “medical-friendly accommodations.” A city official said medical tourism is currently centered on hospitals and clinics, with related services such as patient recruitment agencies, travel firms and transportation operating alongside them. The city is reviewing support systems tailored to long-stay patients, the official said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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