South Korea welcomes over 2 million foreign patients in 2025, spending surges
In 2025, more than 2.01 million international visitors came to South Korea for medical, dental and surgical care, driving a sharp rise in tourism revenue.
According to a state-run report, South Korea attracted 2.01 million foreign patients for medical, dental and surgical treatments in 2025, marking a 71.9 percent increase over the prior year. The surge reflects growing global confidence in the nation’s medical expertise and the expansion of multilingual support at major hospitals and clinics. Spending by these visitors reached 213.08 billion won between March and July, remaining above the 200 billion-won threshold for five consecutive months.
Chinese tourists led the expenditure tally, with Americans and Japanese next in line. Dermatology clinics absorbed 54.9 percent of total spending, plastic-surgery centers 19.3 percent, and pharmacies 12.9 percent. Seoul dominated the market, receiving 86.8 percent of all medical-tourism revenue, while Busan and Gyeonggi Province accounted for 6.4 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.
Why it matters
The growth highlights South Korea’s rising role as a global hub for medical tourism and its economic impact.
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