Breakdown of number of medical patients from abroad by nationality in 2025 (Ministry of Health and Welfare)
By Kim Hyelin
The number of medical patients seeking treatment in Korea from abroad last year broke the two million mark for the first time.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare on April 24 announced a 2025 figure of 2,011,822 patients who sought treatment at domestic medical facilities.
After plunging to 120,000 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the figure since 2023 has set an all-time high for three consecutive years.
By nationality, China topped the list for the first time with 618,973 (30.8%), followed by those from Japan (29.8%). In growth rate, the number of Chinese patients skyrocketed 137.5% and that of Taiwanese 122.5%, more than double from 2024.
The ministry cited a combination of factors for the surge like the visa-free policy for Chinese on group tours and the growing global popularity of Korean cosmetics and beauty and Hallyu (Korean Wave). The growth in such patients from the US (70.4%) and Canada (59.1%) were also their highest since 2009.
Over half of such patients sought treatment in dermatology with 1.31 million (62.9%), followed by plastic surgery (11.2%) and general internal medicine (9.2%). The share of visits to outpatient clinics was 87.7% and the number of consultations at dental clinics jumped 128.9% year on year.
The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade in a 2025 analysis of the ripple effects of medical tourism estimated related spending by foreign patients and their companions at KRW 12.5 trillion, with a total economic impact of KRW 22.8 trillion.
kimhyelin211@korea.kr