How to Check an Aesthetic Clinic in South Korea
Needs medical review. This page stays unpublished until a doctor signs off.
Updated 2026-11-11
Before booking an aesthetic clinic in South Korea, check three things: the clinic’s registration to treat foreign patients, whether a specialist is actually on staff, and the full terms in writing. Korea has no simple English register for individual doctors, so the questions you ask the clinic matter more than in other countries.
Step 1: Check the clinic’s foreign-patient registration
Clinics that attract international patients must register under Korea’s Act on Support for Overseas Expansion of Healthcare System and Attraction of International Patients. Check the provider through Medical Korea, the official foreign-patient information service.
Search using the clinic’s Korean legal name, not only its English brand. The two often differ. Ask the clinic for its exact legal name and address.
If you book through an agency or coordinator, check that it is registered too. A clinic’s registration does not cover the agent.
Registration is an administrative check. It is not a quality rating and does not endorse a doctor, result or price.
Step 2: Check who will treat you
- A clinic signed as a dermatology clinic (피부과 의원) must have a certified dermatology specialist.
- Clinics without “dermatology” on the sign may not have a specialist on staff, even if they treat skin.
- A dermatology specialist in Korea trains for 6 years of medical school, a 1-year internship and 4 years of residency.
Ask for the full name and specialty of the doctor who will perform your treatment, and whether it is the same doctor you meet at consultation.
Step 3: Get the terms in writing before paying a deposit
- A written treatment plan
- An itemised estimate, including product brand and units or syringes
- The interpreter arrangement
- What happens if there is an urgent complication, during and after your trip
- Cancellation, refund and aftercare terms
Read consent forms before signing, and ask for a translation you understand.
Useful numbers in Korea
- Medical Korea Information Center: +82 1577 7129 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
- 1330 Korea Travel Hotline: 24 hours, English, can help with interpretation
- Emergency: 119
Next step
Read our consultation questions before your first call, or compare clinics in Seoul.
Questions
- How do I know if a Korean clinic is allowed to treat foreign patients?
- Clinics that market to international patients must register for foreign-patient attraction under Korean law. You can check a provider's registration through Medical Korea, the official foreign-patient information service.
- Is every Korean skin clinic run by a dermatologist?
- No. A clinic signed as a dermatology clinic (pibugwa uiwon) must have a certified dermatology specialist. Clinics without 'dermatology' on the sign may not have one.
- What should I get in writing before treatment in Korea?
- A written treatment plan, an itemised estimate, the interpreter arrangement, the plan for urgent complications, and the cancellation, refund and aftercare terms.