Which Health Checkup Is Right for Me?

Planning a trip for wellness and medical tourism in Korea? Here are the most common — and most important — questions from American customers.

Q1. Which checkup package is right for me?

For first-time visitors, we recommend a Full Body Checkup. This comprehensive package is hard to access in the U.S., but widely available in Korea.

General guideline most Koreans follow:

• Under 40 → Standard package
• Age 40+ → Signature or higher package
• Family history, smoking, or risk factors → Add extra tests at any age

Korea’s Basic Health Checkup Act considers preventive screening a basic right. Any healthy individual is encouraged to book a checkup by choice.

The goal is early detection. Use the guideline above, but feel free to customize your package with the tests you find most important.

Q2. What’s the difference between a Full Body Checkup and a Whole Body MRI?

A Whole Body MRI is powerful: it’s safe (no radiation), produces high-resolution images of the brain, spine, joints, and organs, and can catch very small or early-stage issues. It’s especially useful for early cancer detection and preventive screening.

But Himedi doesn’t list these packages to suggest that one is “better” than the other. They’re designed to serve different needs:

• Full Body Checkup → A cost- and time-efficient Korean package for broad screening
• Whole Body MRI → A specialty exam that started in the U.S., still expensive and hard to book there — but in Korea, Himedi makes it available at lower cost with faster scheduling

Q3. I have ___ symptom or illness. Will a checkup help?

If you already have symptoms or a known illness, the most direct path is usually to see a specialist.

A checkup’s main purpose is early detection — spotting signs that might indicate disease before symptoms even appear. In fact, Korea’s National Health Insurance Service reported that in 2021, 33.2% of screenings flagged potential issues. Still, checkups are not the same as a full medical diagnosis; they are best seen as a complementary step.

Many U.S. clients, however, choose Himedi’s checkups even after receiving treatment at home. If they already know which tests they want — but face high costs or long wait times in the U.S. — they find it easier and more affordable to get those screenings in Korea without needing a prescription.

Q4. How soon can I book? (Availability)

Often, you can book as soon as tomorrow. Himedi clients get priority scheduling at our partner clinics. Except for large exams like Whole Body MRI (limited capacity), next-day slots are common.

Most checkups finish in the morning, leaving your afternoon free to enjoy Korea. This makes it easy to invest in your health without interrupting your trip.

For packages with a colonoscopy, book at least a week ahead to allow time for prep.

✨ With Himedi, you don’t just book a checkup — you get priority access, English support, and fast scheduling at Korea’s top clinics.

Plan your medical itinerary with Himedi.com