The percentage of foreign patients who underwent plastic surgery rose by 26 per cent, from 90,494 in 2019 to 114,074 in 2023. - AFP
SEOUL: South Korean hospitals and clinics have seen a surge in patients from overseas since the Covid-19 pandemic, mainly for plastic surgery and skincare, according to government data on Oct 8.
A total of 239,060 and 114,074 international patients received dermatological treatments and plastic surgery respectively. They accounted for nearly 52 per cent of the 678,799 foreign nationals in South Korea who received medical services at hospitals and clinics in 2023.
The figures are from the Health Ministry’s report on foreign patients submitted to Nam In-soon of the Democratic Party of Korea.
The data did not provide further information on which nationalities were more frequent users of beauty services.
The percentage of foreign patients who underwent plastic surgery rose by 26 per cent, from 90,494 in 2019 to 114,074 in 2023.
The number of patients who received dermatological treatments saw a threefold jump in the same period, from 85,194 to 239,060.
Others came to South Korea to visit dentists, ophthalmologists and orthopaedic doctors.
Nam suggested that the concentration on beauty care tourism could lead to a decline in the quality of healthcare services.
“We need to achieve balanced growth in a variety of medical specialities, such as treatments for serious illnesses, and enhance the country’s international competitiveness in a diverse range of medical fields to attract foreign patients,” Nam said. - The Korea Herald/ANN
