Seoul, the best destination for medical tourism
- Recognized for its advanced medical technology and efficient medical system
- Korea is globally recognized for its world-leading medical technologies, and Seoul is the no. 1 medical tourism destination in the country.
- Named one of World’s Best Hospitals in 2023 by the global news magazine Newsweek
- Statista, a global market research firm, and the U.S. news magazine Newsweek rank the World's Best Hospitals based on recommendations from nearly 80,000 healthcare professionals across 28 countries and actual patient satisfaction ratings. 18 of the hospitals on the 2023 list are located in Korea, which puts the country third in the world and the first among Asian countries.
- 18 of the World’s Best Hospitals are in Korea and 13 are located in Seoul, which proves the standing of Seoul as a medical wellness tourism destination.
- According to the global data service Numbeo,
Korea ranked 2nd in the 2022 and 2023 Health Care Index.
- Korea's standing in the healthcare technology and system sector is also evidenced by the fact that it ranked second in the Numbeo Health Care Index for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023). The Numbeo Health Care Index assesses the overall quality of healthcare systems, medical professionals, equipment, staff, doctors, and costs across the world.
- In the Index, Seoul proved its excellence in healthcare infrastructure by gaining ‘very satisfactory’ ratings in skill and competency, speed, modern equipment, accuracy and completeness, responsiveness, location, etc.
- Patient-Friendly Medical Tourism Environment in Seoul
- Seoul’s patient-friendly medical tourism environment attracts numerous medical tourists visiting Korea to Seoul.
- Seoul’s Medical Tourism Statistics in 2022
- In 2022, 248,110 medical tourists visited Korea from 191 countries, and 146,310 of them (around 60%) chose Seoul as their destination. The number of medical tourists to Seoul has been growing at a yearly rate of 11.2%, and their ages vary from 20’s to 60’s.
source:KHIDI
- Medical Institutions with Most Foreign Visitors in 2022
- According to the Medical Institutions with Most Foreign Visitors survey by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), Seoul was home to 48 (37%) of the 131 Institutions with the Most Foreign Visitors in 2022, far surpassing the other cities in the country.
- Patient-Friendly Medical Tourism Environment in Seoul
- Despite their advanced medical technologies and infrastructure, Korean hospitals offer more affordable services relative to their European counterparts. They also offer fast diagnosis and prompt procedures, thereby preventing unnecessarily prolonged stays. The city is also only an hour’s drive from the Incheon International Airport (around 60 km), which is also a huge plus for patients.
- Rich Medical Wellness Tourism Resources
- In addition to its excellent medical infrastructure, Seoul’s reputation as a global medical wellness tourism destination is supported by its rich tourism resources.
Seoul’s vast range of medical tourism resources includes spas, temple stay programs, and exercise programs designed to keep patients healthy and assist with their recuperation after treatment or surgery. Restore the health of both your body and mind in Seoul, a global medical wellness tourism destination!