Globally, medical tourism has been a prominent industry for various reasons over the years. Patients crossing borders to seek high-quality medical services that are not easily accessible in their home countries has become a common trend. However, the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 put a significant brake on this trend. Travel restrictions and the reallocation of medical resources worldwide led to a sharp decline in the medical tourism industry, and it was expected that recovery would take considerable time.
However, 2023 marked a swift turnaround, with South Korea’s medical tourism industry achieving remarkable success. As a result, South Korea has reclaimed its place as a key player in the global medical tourism market. The country is now on the verge of becoming the central hub for medical tourism in Asia, fully recovering from the pandemic’s impact and preparing for a new era of growth.
South Korea’s New Surge in Medical Tourism
2023 was a landmark year for South Korea’s medical tourism industry. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of foreign patients who visited South Korea for medical treatment in 2023 reached a total of 606,000. This is an impressive 2.4-fold increase from the 248,000 patients in 2022, and it surpasses the pre-pandemic peak of 497,000 in 2019 by 1.2 times. These figures indicate that the recovery of foreign patient attraction is well underway.
National Trends in Patient Attraction: Japan and Taiwan Lead the Way
In 2023, East Asian countries dominated the list of nations sending patients to South Korea, with Japan and Taiwan showing particularly notable increases. The number of patients from Japan increased by 762.8% compared to the previous year, while the number of Taiwanese patients surged by a staggering 866.7%. This significant growth reflects the high interest in South Korea’s dermatology and plastic surgery services in these countries.
Besides Japan and Taiwan, other major sources of patients included China, the United States, and Thailand, with China and the U.S. accounting for 18.5% and 12.7% of the total, respectively. These countries are now key markets for South Korea’s medical tourism industry.
Popular Medical Specialties: Dominance of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery
In 2023, the most popular medical specialties among foreign patients in South Korea were dermatology and plastic surgery. Of all the foreign patients, 35.2% visited dermatology clinics, while 16.8% sought plastic surgery. Combined, these two specialties accounted for more than half (52%) of all foreign patient visits. This underscores the strong reputation that South Korea’s dermatology and plastic surgery sectors have globally.
Dermatology, in particular, saw a 553% increase in patient numbers compared to the previous year, while plastic surgery also continued to grow steadily. These figures reflect the international recognition of South Korea’s medical technology and service quality.
Types of Medical Institutions: Dominance of Clinics
Analysis of the types of medical institutions visited by foreign patients in 2023 reveals that clinics were the most popular, accounting for 66.5% of all visits. This was followed by general hospitals (13.5%) and tertiary hospitals (10.6%). This indicates that foreign patients are primarily seeking dermatology and plastic surgery services in small to mid-sized clinics in South Korea.
Notably, traditional Korean medicine clinics saw the highest increase in patient numbers, with a growth rate of 689.9%, indicating a rising interest in traditional Korean medicine among foreign patients. This shows that traditional Korean medicine is becoming an attractive option for foreign patients.
Regional Trends: Concentration in the Capital Region
Regionally, the capital region remains the focal point for attracting foreign patients. Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon together accounted for 88.9% of all foreign patient visits, with Seoul alone representing 78.1%. This is largely due to the concentration of major medical institutions in these areas.
However, non-capital regions are also increasingly attracting foreign patients, with some areas like Chungnam and Jeonbuk showing year-over-year growth rates exceeding 100%. This reflects the effectiveness of government and local efforts to attract foreign patients through region-specific medical tourism programs.
Challenges and Future Prospects for South Korea’s Medical Tourism
Despite the impressive achievements in 2023, South Korea’s medical tourism industry faces several challenges moving forward. With intense global competition in the medical tourism market, South Korea must continue to enhance its competitiveness. Key tasks include developing integrated medical and tourism services, strengthening regional specialization strategies through decentralization, and providing tailored services for foreign patients.
Moreover, maintaining the stability of the medical system and ensuring international trust in South Korea’s healthcare services are crucial. This requires close cooperation between the government and the private sector, ongoing investment, and innovative marketing strategies.
Conclusion: A Bright Future for South Korea’s Medical Tourism
2023 marked a significant resurgence and a new era for South Korea’s medical tourism industry. With renewed momentum, South Korea is poised to solidify its position as a key player in the global medical tourism market. Moving forward, South Korea’s medical tourism industry is expected to continue growing and evolving, further establishing the country as a leading global medical tourism hub. Collaborative efforts between the government, the private sector, and local communities will be essential to shaping a bright future for South Korea’s medical tourism industry.
 |
| medical tourism industry |
