Chinese Patients Become Major Spenders at Korean Dermatology Clinics
Creatrip Team
22 days ago
Chinese visitors have emerged as the largest group of foreign patients at South Korean dermatology clinics. According to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute’s 2025 report, Korea treated about 2.01 million foreign patients last year, up 71.9% year-on-year. China accounted for 30.8% (618,973) of all foreign patients, followed closely by Japan at 29.8% (609,009). In dermatology specifically, Chinese patients made up 35.0% (459,521) of visits, with Japanese patients at 30.5% (399,964). For plastic surgery, Japanese patients were the largest group (42.0%), while Chinese patients were 24.5%. Other specialties showed different patterns: Mongolian and U.S. patients led in ophthalmology, and U.S. patients were prominent in orthopedics and health screening centers. The number of foreign patients per 1,000 visitors rose from 28.4 in 2019 to 106.2 last year, indicating medical services are growing faster than overall tourism. Demand for cosmetic services (dermatology, plastic surgery) remains high from China and Japan, while other Asian countries increasingly seek treatment-focused medical tourism such as LASIK (laser eye surgery), spinal disc procedures, and cancer care.
