South Korea’s medical tourism market has officially entered the era of "2 million foreign patients per year." Following the protracted challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment performance has rebounded dramatically to set a new all-time record. However, a deeper analysis reveals that the concentration of patients in specific specialties and private clinics is becoming more entrenched. This trend has sparked growing calls for structural reform to attract high-value-added patients seeking treatment for serious illnesses.
Seoul, Busan, and Gyeonggi Lead Rankings; Aesthetic Procedures at Private Clinics Near 90%
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the total number of foreign medical tourists who visited Korea in 2025 reached 2,011,822—the highest figure since the program's inception.
A notable shift occurred in regional rankings: while Seoul maintained its dominant top position with 1.75 million patients, Busan (75,000) surpassed Gyeonggi Province to claim the No. 2 spot nationwide for the first time. Gyeonggi, Jeju, and Incheon followed.
By specialty, dermatology and plastic surgery continued to lead the market, followed by general internal medicine, health checkups, and traditional Korean medicine. This indicates that the primary motivation for medical travel to Korea remains concentrated on aesthetic procedures. Furthermore, private clinics accounted for 87.7% of patient visits, vastly outperforming tertiary general hospitals (3%) and general hospitals (3.6%). This suggests that nine out of ten foreign patients favor minor aesthetic treatments at local clinics over specialized care at university hospitals.
Busan Reaches All-Time High as Taiwanese Surge Overtakes Japan
Busan’s growth has been particularly steep within the national trend. Last year, the city hosted 75,879 medical tourists, a 151.5% jump from the previous year and a 284% increase compared to the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.
The demographic landscape has also shifted. Last year, 28,373 visitors arrived from Taiwan—a nearly fourfold increase year-over-year. Taiwanese patients now represent 37.4% of Busan’s medical tourism market, overtaking Japan (22.2%), which had long been the primary driver. Experts attribute this to Busan’s geographic accessibility paired with the global "K-beauty" boom, with many travelers including dermatological procedures as a standard part of their itineraries.
67% Concentration in Dermatology; Challenges in Attracting Severe Cases
Despite quantitative growth, the qualitative downside is significant. In Busan, dermatology alone accounted for 67% (52,798 people) of all medical tourists. When combined with plastic surgery (6.5%), aesthetic demand exceeds 70% of the total.
In contrast, departments handling serious conditions—such as general internal medicine, orthopedics, and ophthalmology—which typically yield higher per-patient revenue and reflect the region's advanced medical capabilities, saw their overall market shares decline. While the absolute number of patients in these fields rose slightly due to the overall market expansion, the structural imbalance favoring "short-stay aesthetic patients" over "highly profitable treatment patients" remains a concern.
![[Table] Overview of Busan’s international medical tourism in 2025.](https://cdn.kormedi.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-file.png)
2026 Goal: Establishing a High-Value, Treatment-Centered Model
The Busan Metropolitan Government plans to invest 2.4 billion won this year under the "2026 Busan Medical Tourism Activation Master Plan." The strategy aims to strengthen the local ecosystem and destination branding to provide tailored services for independent travelers.
On May 4, city officials noted that spending per medical tourist averages 8.11 million won—four times that of general tourists. "We will build a high-value-added convergence model to ensure that Busan’s specialized medical technology earns international trust," a representative stated. "Our goal is to accelerate the transition from simple procedures to a treatment-centered model for foreign patients."
The future success of Busan’s medical tourism will likely depend on whether it can successfully diversify its current dermatology-heavy structure into specialized services for serious diseases, such as internal medicine and orthopedics.
