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Why Korea

Global

Medical Korea over the World

  • Since 2009, the number of foreign visitors seeking medical tourism in South Korea has been steadily increasing. In 2024 alone, approximately 1.17 million foreign patients from 202 countries visited Korea for medical services. This continued growth reflects the global trust in Korea’s medical excellence, with a cumulative total of 5.05 million foreign patients choosing Korea for their healthcare needs since 2009.
Foreign Patient’s Place of Origin
  • (Cumulative actual patients from 2009 to 2024)
  • 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 250,000 150,000 80,000 0
    • 60,201
      2009
    • 81,789
      2010
    • 122,297
      2011
    • 159,464
      2012
    • 211,218
      2013
    • 266,501
      2014
    • 296,889
      2015
    • 364,189
      2016
    • 321,574
      2017
    • 378,967
      2018
    • 497,464
      2019
    • 117,069
      2020
    • 145,842
      2021
    • 248,110
      2022
    • 205,768
      2023
    • 1,170,467
      2024
    Cumulative annual no. of Total patients from 2009 to 2024
    total :
    5,047,809
  • Actual no. of patients : No. of patients by hospital except multiple medical treatments and visits
Most Visited Medical Departments
  • Accumulated from 2009 to 2024
  • Dermatology 23%
  • Integrative Internal Medicine 18%
  • Plastic Surgery 12%
  • Health Screening Center 8%
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology 4%
  • Orthopedics 4%
  • Integrated Oriental Medicine 3%
  • General Surgery 3%
  • Dental Clinic 3%
  • 2024 Foreign Patient Attraction Statistical Analysis Report, KHIDI(2025)

Recognizing Medical Korea

  • South Korea won the grand prize for “Health and Medical Tourism : Destination of the year” for 2 consecutive years, as well as the title, ‘Process Award’ at ”Porter Prize for Excellence in CSV”, which is selected by Prof. Michael Eugene Porter, in global medical references. This assures the world’s recognition of Korea’s competitiveness in medical field.

Medical Tourism Destination

  • Korea has consistently proven its competitiveness as an advanced medical destination and garnered worldwide recognition. It has been honored with the prestigious “Medical Tourism Destination of the Year” award for two consecutive years at global conferences, while also receiving accolades for its exceptional “Response to the COVID-19” pandemic.
  • Health and Medical Tourism:
    Destination of the Year(2018~2019)
    IMTJ Medical Travel Summit
  • Outstanding Response to COVID-19(2020) IMTJ Medical Travel Summit
  • Recognizing Innovation in Healthcare 2018 World Medical Tourism Congress 2018
  • Corporate Social Responsibility Program
    of the Year(2021)
    Healthcare Asia Medtech Awards
  • Porter Prize for Excellence in CSV (2019)
  • ESG Program of the Year,
    Healthcare Asia Awards (2023)
Medical Korea