Reasons Why Foreign Patients Come to Korea

Medical tourism was one of the largest sectors affected during the COVID-19 pandemic when countries all over the world shut down their borders. However, with the restrictions lifted, foreign nationals are seeking medical treatment and coming back to Korea. According to data from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), nearly 600,000 foreign patients entered Korea in 2019, but the number dropped to 134,000 in 2020. 

What is medical tourism?

Medical tourism is the process of traveling outside of one’s country to receive medical care. The majority of medical tourists currently rely on private companies or ‘medical concierge’ services to identify healthcare facilities. Choosing the right agency is important because not all agencies provide the same quality services. Docfinderkorea offers high-quality patient safety services that attract foreign patients to come to Korea to receive treatments at medical institutions. During their stay, Docfinder works very hard to stand out in providing the highest level of assurance and comfort. This includes a staff member who attends all your medical consultations and appointments with you, so that there are no language barriers. They provide chauffeur services between airports, hotels, and hospitals. Need nails or shampoo done? Docfinder will help you book an appointment. Post-surgery can be challenging, so Docfinder will assist you in purchasing medication or groceries as needed. It can be scary traveling alone in a foreign country, but Docfinder will take all the stress and anxiety away with constant support and reliable communication.

Above all, the excellence of medical teams makes Korean medical standards highly desirable. From a global perspective, it is difficult to find a country with exceptional training and education dedicated to its profession. The rate of the electronic medical record (EMR) system by Korean medical institutions is among the highest globally. Korea ranks second worldwide, further establishing its position as a medical powerhouse.

Although it is a fact that plastic surgery and dermatology are the most sought-after medical services by foreign patients, critics say Korea should focus more on attracting patients requiring long-term care and complicated surgeries to develop the medical tourism industry sustainably.

Between 2018 to 2021, the most visited medical department among foreign patients in Korea was the internal medicine department (20%), followed by plastic surgery (14%) and dermatology (13%), along with overall medical checkups (9%), according to data from the KHIDI.

Korea is also considered an international leader in cancer treatment. 4 out of the top 20 hospitals in the world for cancer treatment are based in Korea. Korean cancer centers provide one-stop-shop services supporting prevention, testing, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up management.

Travelers can rest assured that whatever their medical reason for visiting South Korea, their needs and expectations will be met. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it would work with other government agencies to promote the excellence of Korean medical care and make the nation a leading healthcare country.