Record influx of medical tourists delivers $2.47 bil. economic windfall for Korea

For Natsagdorj Namuun, a 30-year-old freelance model from Mongolia, the imagined Korea of her youth was a neon-hued daydream of K-pop, defined by the synchronized glitz of the Wonder Girls and Girls’ Generation. But for Natsagdorj and her peers today, the country is no longer just a distant stage for pop idols, but a place they associate with personal reinvention. “I had rhinoplasty and breast surgery in Seoul in 2022,” Natsagdorj told The Korea Times. “I can’t give an exact figure, but I spent at least several million won on the procedures. Five or six of my friends also came to Korea for cosmetic surgery.” About 1.17 million foreign patients visited Korea last year, the highest total since Seoul began promoting medical tourism in 2009, underscoring the industry’s growing economic significance. The impact extends beyond hospitals. A recent study found that foreign patients are also emerging as significant consumers, with about 920,000 visitors spending a combined 3.66 trillion won ($2.47 billion) in Korea last year. The Korea Health Industry Development Institute released a