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5 clusters · 12 sources · 38 days · First seen · Last updated

South Korea expands medical tourism through regional growth

Overview

South Korea’s medical tourism sector continues to expand through aggressive international outreach and regional business initiatives. Following a significant rise in foreign patients in 2025, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has set its sights on Central Asia. At a 2026 roadshow, the KTO announced plans to increase the proportion of medical tourists from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to over 20%, modeling the strategy after successful engagement in Kazakhstan.

Local governments are also launching targeted events to attract international patients. In Busan, the ‘2026 Foreign Patient Attraction Business Fair’ is scheduled for late August, featuring 41 medical institutions and 16 international buyers from countries including Thailand, China, the United States, and Mongolia. The fair aims to build direct cooperation networks through facility tours and business consultations.

Recent data indicates that the number of foreign patients traveling to South Korea for medical services surpassed 2 million in 2025, marking a 71.9% increase from the previous year. Taiwanese patients accounted for 185,715 of these visitors, representing 9.2% of the total and ranking third behind China and Japan.

As the market matures, consumer priorities are shifting from price and equipment toward service quality and experience. While social media interest remains high for specific procedures like plastic surgery, travelers are increasingly prioritizing language accessibility, privacy, and the clarity of the consultation process. In popular areas like Gangnam, clinics are differentiating themselves through multi-language support and private treatment environments to cater to these evolving international needs.

Entities

Korea Tourism Organization · Busan Metropolitan City · Himedi · Korea SMEs and Startups Agency · South Korea

Timeline

  1. 1 day ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    South Korea medical tourism exceeds 2 million patients in 2025

    Foreign medical patients in South Korea exceeded 2 million in 2025, with Taiwanese travelers ranking third, driving a shift in market competition toward language services and privacy.

  2. 6 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    South Korea tourism demand shifts toward practical service information

    South Korean tourism trends show a shift from destination searching to a demand for practical service information, particularly regarding medical tourism logistics and transportation for local festivals.

  3. 8 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    South Korea expands global business through medical tourism and K-goods fairs

    South Korean entities are expanding global reach through two major initiatives: Busan’s medical tourism business fair and a large-scale K-goods exhibition in Las Vegas targeting the Americas.

  4. 26 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    South Korea’s medical tourism boom drives record foreign spending

    South Korea’s medical tourism surged, with 2 million foreign patients in 2025 and record foreign card spending in early 2026, driven by cost‑effective, high‑quality care and growing health‑plus‑tourism demand.

  5. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    South Korea tourism board aims for 20% medical‑tourist share in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

    South Korea's tourism agency aims to lift medical‑tourist share in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan above 20% by leveraging Kazakhstan's success, outlined at a 2026 Central Asia roadshow ahead of a Seoul summit.

Sources

attitude.co.uk · biz.heraldcorp.com · d-cuba.com · divirta-se.com.br · inews365.com · kaigai.ch · m.hani.co.kr · myjoyonline.com · news.heraldcorp.com · newstravel.co.kr · pingtungtimes.com.tw · sertao24horas.com.br

This summary has been updated 5 times: see revision history