Foreign Skin and Plastic Surgery Visits Rose 82.5% in Korea
Lawmaker Nam In-soon’s analysis of Korea Health Industry Development Institute data found 1,545,800 foreign patients in dermatology and plastic surgery in 2025, up 82.5% from 2024.
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Nam’s analysis found that dermatology and plastic surgery accounted for 74.1% of foreign patients counted by medical specialty in 2025. The combined patient count increased from 846,889 in 2024 to 1,545,800 in 2025.
Cosmetic VAT refunds neared KRW 200 billion
Nam’s analysis also put value-added tax refunds for cosmetic medical services at KRW 196.4 billion in 2025, more than twice the previous year’s amount. The figures indicate that the growth in foreign-patient visits was accompanied by a sharp rise in tax refunds tied to cosmetic services.
What the figures can establish
The Korea Health Industry Development Institute figures describe patient volume, specialty concentration and VAT refunds. These measures do not evaluate the effectiveness, safety, risks or outcomes of any dermatology or plastic surgery procedure, so they cannot support clinical comparisons or treatment decisions.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.
