KOREAN NET

A record-high 1.17 million foreign nationals last year visited Korea for medical treatment. (Asan Medical Center)

By Jeon Misun

The number of foreign visitors for medical treatment last year hit a record-high 1.17 million, nearly double that of 2023.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare on April 2 said 1,170,467 foreign patients from 202 countries visited last year, a 93.2% jump from 610,000 in 2023 and the highest figure since the launch of the medical tourism initiative in 2009.

By country, Japan sent the most patients, followed by China, the U.S. and Taiwan in that order. Those from Japan and China accounted for 60% or 702,000 of the total.

Dermatology led all medical fields with 705,000 patients (56.6%), followed by plastic surgery (11.4%), internal medicine (10%) and medical checkups (4.5%).

"The business of attracting foreign patients is a high value-added industry that combines medical care and tourism," the ministry said. "We will expand public support to form a sustainable industrial ecosystem and continue streamlining laws and systems to make an impact on the sector."

msjeon22@korea.kr