South Korea Reports Over 2 Million Foreign Patients in 2025

The number of foreign patients in South Korea exceeded 2 million for the first time in 2025, the Ministry of Health and Welfare reported on April 24, 2026. A total of 2.01 million patients from 201 countries visited the country that year, up from 1.17 million in 2024.

The ministry has tracked these figures since 2009, with annual increases until a drop to 110,000 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recovery reached the 2 million mark within five years.

patients made up 30.8 percent of the total, followed by Japanese at 29.8 percent, Taiwanese at 9.2 percent, and Americans at 8.6 percent. The number of U.S. patients increased by 70.4 percent to 173,000 in 2025. Over 62 percent of foreign patients sought dermatology treatments, while 11.2 percent underwent plastic surgery. Most visits, 87.2 percent, occurred in Seoul.

The ministry attributed the growth to demand for dermatology treatments and interest in Korean culture. Related developments include record foreign arrivals in the first quarter of 2026 and eased visa requirements for Chinese nationals. The data highlights South Korea's role in international medical services, with potential implications for healthcare infrastructure and tourism policies.