Having made a full-scale entry into global medical markets with the amendment of the Medical Service Act in 2009, Korea is positioning itself as a Global Healthcare hub, what with some 6 million foreign patients visiting Korea in 2009 alone.
The number of international journal publications in the medical field of Korea is Asia's best; Korea is also one of the countries conducting the most number of clinical experiments in the world. In particular, Korea's competitiveness in the treatment of cancers, cardiac and vascular diseases, and spinal disc and organ transplantation belongs to the world's
top tier. The country is also considered a world leader in the cosmetic surgery, dermatology, and dentistry fields. In addition, traditional medicine unique to Korea is recognized worldwide as a disease prevention and alternative medicine. Nonetheless, the biggest advantage of Medical Tourism Korea is that people can receive highly diverse, high-level medical services at reasonable prices.
- (unit : %)
| Site | Korea ('01~'05) |
Korea ('03~'07) |
USA1) ('99~'05') |
Canada2) ('98~'00') |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All cancers | 53.1 | 57.1 | 66.1 | 60 |
| Stomach | 57.3 | 61.2 | 25.7 | 22 |
| Liver | 19.4 | 21.7 | 13.1 | 14 |
| Cervix uteri | 80.9 | 80.5 | 70.6 | 75 |
| Colon and rectum | 66.1 | 68.7 | 65.2 | 59/613) |
| Thyroid | 98.0 | 98.8 | 96.9 | 97 |
| Breast | 88.0 | 89.5 | 89.1 | 87 |
| Lung | 15.6 | 16.7 | 15.6 | 15 |
| Pancreas | 7.4 | 7.6 | 5.5 | 6 |
| Prostate | 78.6 | 82.4 | 99.7 | 94 |
- 1) Horner, M.J., Ries, L.A.G., Krapcho, M., Neyman, N., Aminou, R., Howlader, N., et al (eds).
- SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975~2006, National Cancer Institute, 2009
- 2) Statistics Canada, Cancer Survival Statistics 1992~2000
- 3) Colon/Rectum
- (unit: case, %)
| Liver Transplantation | Korea | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Total number/year | ~1,000 | ~6,000 |
| % Living donor | 75% | < 5% |
| Living body liver transplantation surgery | ~750 | ~300 |
- ** Source : Cornell Medical College, NY, NY (Chul soo-Hyun, MD, PhD)
- ** Source : Data from the Liver Transplantation Center(Korea); entire data for the USA
The number of beds for acute diseases per 1,000 people in Korea stood at 7.1 as of 2007; this is much higher than the US's 2.7, France's 3.6, and Britain's 2.6. Korea actually recorded quite a high rate among OECD countries. The number of beds for long-term recuperation in Korea was 1.4 per 1,000 people, which was much higher than the 0.1 beds in the US, 1.1 in France, and 0.1 in Britain.
The waiting time for treatment does not exceed two weeks; patients can comfortably visit Korea through direct air routes with main countries worldwide.
Aiming at attracting some 200,000 foreign patients by 2013, the Korean government and medical institutions make all-out efforts to ensure that foreign patients receive safer treatment more conveniently.
