Korea’s medical tourism consumption increased 5.8 times from ₩84.15 billion in the first quarter of 2019 to ₩491.1 billion this year, driven by strong demand for K-beauty medical care and wellness experiences, with platforms like MyReal Trip and Healing Paper expanding services for foreign patients.

This growth in medical and wellness tourism is helping to improve Korea’s tourism balance, even as overall foreign tourist consumption slows. The number of foreign patients visiting Korea has reached an all-time high.

Patient Numbers and Growth

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea recorded 2,011,822 foreign patients last year. The growth rate for foreign patient arrivals has been fast, nearly doubling year-on-year in recent projections:

  • 610,000 foreign patients in 2023
  • 1.17 million foreign patients in 2024
  • 2.01 million foreign patients in 2025

Since 2009, the cumulative number of foreign patients visiting Korea has reached 7.06 million.

Platform Service Expansion

As demand for K-beauty medical care, particularly dermatology and plastic surgery, and wellness experiences increases, related platforms are enhancing their services for foreign visitors. These efforts extend beyond simple reservations to support the entire medical tourism process, including interpretation, consultation, and on-site guidance.

MyReal Trip’s Beauty and Wellness Integration

Domestic travel super app MyReal Trip recently launched lifestyle categories, including beauty and wellness. The service allows users to explore beauty and wellness products similarly to how they select travel products. MyReal Trip states it applies its existing criteria for verifying external travel partners to these new categories to ensure reliability. The platform also recommends products based on user behaviour data, matching personal tastes and purposes.

To mark the launch, MyReal Trip is running a ‘beauty check-in’ promotion until the 20th. This promotion covers pre-travel preparation and post-return recovery, featuring themed products such as:

  • Scalp and head spa
  • Aesthetic and spa
  • Racing and massage
  • Hair and makeup
  • Seshin and sauna
  • Eyelashes
  • Nails

MyReal Trip initially plans to establish these new categories for domestic users’ daily care needs before gradually expanding the service to target K-wellness experiences for foreigners visiting Korea. Data from the Korea Tourism Data Lab indicates that foreigner consumption in the beauty and health sector increased by 40.4% year-on-year in 2025. An official from MyReal Trip stated,