The Next #1 User of Korean Medical Services: The United States

In 2024, Japan ranked first with 441,112 medical tourists, China second with 260,641, and the U.S. third with 101,733. From Himedi’s perspective, the U.S. is on track to take the #1 spot within the next five years — not only in beauty services, but across prevention and advanced treatment.

1. U.S. Medical Tourism Growth

Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea; Korea Tourism Organization

• The number of U.S. tourists visiting Korea steadily increased from 967,992 in 2018 to 1,320,108 in 2024, with their rate of using Korean medical services rising from 5% to 8% over the same period.
• In 2024, U.S. tourist arrivals grew rapidly, up more than 21% year-over-year. The surge in total arrivals created a brief illusion of slower growth in medical usage, but the underlying trend remains consistently upward.

2. Japan’s Surge — and What It Means for the U.S.

Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea; Korea Tourism Organization

• U.S. tourists visiting Korea have used Korean medical services over 2% more than the global average.
• Japan’s usage rate, however, has skyrocketed since the pandemic, especially in dermatology.
• Why Japan grew so fast (2022–2024):
  • K-Beauty trends took off first in Japan, amplified by influencer reviews naming specific clinics and treatments.
  • Korean providers rapidly rolled out full Japanese-language workflows — inquiry, consent, aftercare, LINE support — removing uncertainty.
  • Dense, review-rich booking platforms in Japanese made prices, indications, and aftercare relatively transparent.
  • Short-haul, low-cost trips enabled weekend dermatology with minimal downtime — even during a weak yen.
  • High compatibility between Japanese patients’ skincare needs (pigmentation, melasma, scar removal) and Korea’s low-downtime devices (pico lasers, toning, Rejuran, etc.).

3. Will Americans Follow Japan’s Path? Yes

• K-Beauty trends reach the U.S. after Japan, with a natural time lag.
• Many Koreans speak English, and hospitals are rapidly expanding full English workflows — from booking and pre-visit questionnaires to results explanation.
• The longevity megatrend in the U.S. is about embracing natural beauty and confidence with age, creating strong demand for Korea’s advanced, non-invasive anti-aging technologies.
• Just as Japan’s growth continued despite a weak yen, U.S. demand can grow regardless of distance or exchange rate — when the value and trust are clear.
• Himedi is building the “trust loop” for the U.S., inspired by Japan’s success.

4. Could Americans Even Surpass Japan? Yes.

Note: A "tertiary general hospital" refers to one of 47 medical institutions designated by the Korean government that specialize in advanced and severe treatments, such as cancer care.

Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea

• Japan’s strong domestic healthcare system means less need for treatment abroad.
• The U.S. is different:
  • Americans already use Korean health checkups far more than other countries.
  • In 2024, the U.S. sent 17,115 patients with serious illness to Korea’s tertiary hospitals — 29% of the total and more than any other country. U.S. medical tourists rank second after Kazakhstan in cancer cases, first in heart disease cases, and second after China in brain disease cases.
  • The U.S. is the only OECD country actively sending seriously ill patients to Korea for advanced treatments like cancer care.
• If Americans can easily and confidently access Korean care, growth will accelerate in beauty, prevention, and treatment alike.

5. What This Means for the Future

The U.S. isn’t just catching up — it’s poised to lead.

From beauty clinics to whole-body checkups to advanced hospital care, Americans already see Korea as a destination for world-class quality, fast service, and prices far below U.S. levels.

With platforms like Himedi making access seamless, it’s only a matter of time before the U.S. becomes the #1 user of Korean medical services.

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.