GlobeVerge
INDIA
S. Korea attracts more than 2 million foreign medical tourists in 2025
South Korea attracted a record 2.01 million foreign medical tourists in 2025, up 71.9 percent year-on-year, driven by demand for healthcare services. China and Japan accounted for the largest shares, while Seoul dominated medical tourism spending, particularly in dermatology and plastic surgery
GlobeSignal-AIhigh certainty
- Why it matters
- Hospitals and clinics in South Korea expand capacity and hiring to serve surging demand from overseas patients, particularly for cosmetic and dermatological procedures.
- Most affected
- South Korean healthcare providers — Increased patient volume and revenue from foreign medical tourists.
Foreign patients from China and Japan — Greater access to South Korean medical services, especially cosmetic procedures. - Likely next
- Whether South Korea's medical tourism numbers continue to grow in 2026 or whether capacity constraints emerge.
Also reported by: Yonhap