From Cosmetic Tourism to Wellness Retreat

Medical tourism in Korea is still synonymous with cosmetic tourism — from dermatology and Botox to plastic surgery in Seoul’s beauty hubs. Major US outlets reinforce this image.

In January 2025, Bloomberg reported: “Foreigners are flocking to Seoul for cosmetic procedures even as hospitals turn away locals.”

Its Big Take Asia podcast noted that nearly half of Korea’s 2023 medical tourists came for dermatology or plastic surgery.

In August 2024, CNN profiled an American who completed 15 beauty treatments in just three days across six Gangnam clinics — from skin boosters to body contouring — at prices far below US rates.

Yet a new reality is emerging: American visitors are increasingly seeking wellness retreats — comprehensive journeys that blend beauty, preventive care, and advanced medical treatments.

From Cosmetic Tourism to Wellness Retreat

Traditionally, cosmetic tourism has meant dermatology or plastic surgery visits. While these still attract many Americans, the post-pandemic growth story is different: wellness retreats.

Wellness retreats in Korea are built on two core pillars:

1. Dermatology for facial anti-aging (non-surgical)
2. Health checkups

This is closely tied to the recent longevity mega trend, as more people aim to age with better health and a natural sense of beauty. Plastic surgery remains an option, but Americans now tend to use it selectively.

In 2024, American medical tourists accounted for 22% of the 55,762 foreign visitors who came to Korea for health checkups, ranking first among all nationalities — showing a strong preference for prevention.

Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea

The hallmark of a wellness retreat in Korea is adding multiple advanced treatments to the itinerary — what we call medical shopping. Thanks to Korea’s cutting-edge medical equipment, advanced regenerative medicine, and near-zero wait times, this kind of medical shopping is possible. Commonly added advanced treatments include::

• Body contouring and Hair Restoration (non-surgical)
• Advanced regenerative medicine (e.g., stem cell therapy)
• Whole Body Scan
• Aesthetic dentistry focused on premium veneers
• Vision correction surgery (e.g., SMILE Pro) to leave glasses behind

What Americans Look For in a Korean Wellness Retrea

1. Urban Wellness Retreats

• Preference for city-center stays over beach destinations
• Seoul accounts for 74.2% of visits, with the Gangnam area making up 64.9% of that share

2. Luxury Lifestyle at Exceptional Value

• Hotels such as Four Seasons, Josun Palace, and InterContinental are common choices
• In major US cities, regular hotels often start at $400+ per night — a budget that can secure top-tier accommodations in Korea

3. Medical Shopping

• Visiting 4–5 clinics in a single week
• Multiple treatments in one clinic

Plan your checkup with Himedi.com

Himedi connects you to Korea’s top hospitals and clinics, arranges appointments, provides interpretation, translates results, and makes the process effortless — so you can focus on your health, not the logistics.