Why Korea?
Korea is emerging as a new leader on the global healthcare market through quality services, advanced medical technologies, relatively affordable medical costs, fast and efficient diagnostics and therapeutic services, cutting-edge hardware and IT-based infrastructure.
Strengths of the Korean Medical System
1. World’s Best Medical Technology
Unsurpassed competency in treatments for difficult diseases, such cancer, cardiovascular and spinal disorders, and complicated procedures such as transplants.
Five-Year Cancer Survival Rates: International Comparison
Source: National Cancer Information Center
Highly Complex Surgical Procedures Statistics
Source: OECD Indicators (2014)
A pioneer in plastic/cosmetic surgery and dentistry.
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In 2015, Korea was recognized as the third-largest market for
plastic surgery in the world, next only to the United States and Brazil. -
The Korean plastic surgery market is estimated to be KRW 5 trillion in
annual value, making up almost 25 percent of the entire global market value,
estimated at KRW 21 trillion. - With 650,000 operations performed annually, Korea is ranked in the seventh place in terms of the absolute number of plastic surgery operations performed each year, as opposed to the United States where plastic surgery is most frequently performed (3,110,000 annually). When these numbers are converted into the per-population ratio, however, the rankings are reversed.
- With 13.5 plastic surgery operations performed for every 1,000, Korea tops the rankings, followed by Greece (12.5 per 1,000), Italy (11.6 per 1,000), and the United States (9.9 per 1,000).
- There is growing interest worldwide in tooth whitening, orthodontics, and double jaw (orthognathic) surgery.
- Korea is famous worldwide for its topnotch cosmetic dentistry.
- Korean cosmetic dentistry businesses are rapidly increasing their share of the global market, and already boast a 40-percent combined share of the Chinese market.
Sources: International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), Korean Trends Total 2017
2. Excellent Medical Practitioners & Medical Facilities
Hospitals in Korea boast of excellent medical practitioners and facilities. The Korean government has a strict regulation over the hospitals to ensure the optimum medical services.
Medical Hardware (MRI and CT Machines and Hospital Beds) and Medical Practitioner (Doctors and Nurses) Statistics
All hospitals in Korea are nonprofit organizations and they put the safety and satisfaction of patients ahead of profits.
Number of Hospital Beds for Every 1,000 in OECD Member States
Source: OECD Health glance 2017
The OECD statistics count only hospitals, and do not reflect statistics concerning clinics, dental clinics, traditional herbal medicine clinics, and midwifery centers common in Korea.
The Number of Practicing Physicians
Source: OECD Indicators (2014)
3. Affordable Medical Costs
In Korea, patients can receive high quality of health care and treatments at affordable prices through cutting-edge hardware and infrastructure.
OECD-wide Comparison of Medical Insurance Costs (Unit: USD)
Sources: International Federation of Health Plans (2011) and KHIDI (2012).
Medical costs in Korea are only 20-30% of those in the United States or Japan while medical services are still on a similarly high level. The medical bills in Korea are even cheaper than those in China, and comparable to the rates charged by private clinics in Singapore.
4. Accessibility and Safety
As Korea is easily reached from major cities in Asia, North America and Europe, patients can enjoy a more comfortable journey to Korea.
The Korean government has the certification policy for hospitals receiving foreign patients to guarantee a high level of medical services for them.
Various support systems are available to foreign patients such as medical visa, medical translator or coordinator services, etc.
5. Traditional Medicine in Korea
- Traditional medicine in Korea has its own treatments, hospitals and prescriptions that is comparable with western medicine. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized hanbang, or traditional Korean medicine, as valid medicine.
- Traditional Korean medicine involves identifying the physical constitution of each patient, and finding the right (customized) care and prescription accordingly. Traditional Korean medicine also prefers more natural treatments, such as herbal medicines, acupuncture, and moxibustion, over artificial drug regimens of antibiotics and painkillers.
6. Korean Wave
- K-pop, K-beauty, and K-fashion are emerging as hot trends in many countries worldwide today and Korean pop culture is spreading rapidly across the globe.
- Thanks to Korean TV series, movies and beauty products, the number of international medical tourists visiting Korea for beauty and traditional medicine treatment or experience has been on steady rise.
