By Kim Bo-eun
Over 200,000 foreign patients received medical services in Seoul last year, many of whom underwent cosmetic procedures at clinics concentrated in southern Seoul.
Data from the city government shows Seoul had 216,646 foreign patients in 2016, surpassing 200,000 for the first time. In 2014 it had 154,816 patients and in 2015 165,689.
By district, Gangnam-gu had the largest number of patients at 76,385, three times the figure for patients in Seocho-gu with the second-highest number. Gangnam-gu also topped the list in 2014 and 2015.
This is because clinics are concentrated in the affluent district — according to 2015 data from the National Tax Service, 462 of 1,301 cosmetic surgery clinics nationwide were located in Gangnam-gu.
The district office, along with individual clinics, has been campaigning to attract foreign patients.
Gangnam-gu Office reportedly set 78,000 patients as its target for this year. However, the number of foreigners coming to Korea for cosmetic surgery was adversely affected by Korea's deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery this year.
This is because the Chinese, whose government retaliated against the THAAD installation, account for the largest number of patients according to nationality.
The office is reported to have plans to attract 200,000 patients a year within the next five years.
Following Seocho-gu is Seodaemun-gu, which had 14,505 patients last year. The large number is attributed to the universities located in the district, which have many foreign students.
According to nationality, following Chinese patients were Americans, Japanese, Russians and Kazaks.
The city is working together with local medical institutions to attract foreign patients by providing services such as airport pickups and translation.
It also runs a call center that provides information on medical services in English, Chinese and Japanese.
In addition, the Seoul government is hosting overseas fairs and information sessions, with recent ones being hosted in Moscow, Russia and Kazakhstan this year. The events aim to promote medical services in Seoul, together with tourism programs.
Concerns have been growing that promotion efforts are focused on cosmetic procedures.
In response a city official said "The government is holistically promoting medical services offered in Seoul, and not a specific area."
Data shows foreign patients sought the most services in the areas of internal medicine, followed by cosmetic surgery, dermatology and medical checkups.
Over 200,000 foreign patients received medical services in Seoul last year, many of whom underwent cosmetic procedures at clinics concentrated in southern Seoul.
Data from the city government shows Seoul had 216,646 foreign patients in 2016, surpassing 200,000 for the first time. In 2014 it had 154,816 patients and in 2015 165,689.
By district, Gangnam-gu had the largest number of patients at 76,385, three times the figure for patients in Seocho-gu with the second-highest number. Gangnam-gu also topped the list in 2014 and 2015.
This is because clinics are concentrated in the affluent district — according to 2015 data from the National Tax Service, 462 of 1,301 cosmetic surgery clinics nationwide were located in Gangnam-gu.
The district office, along with individual clinics, has been campaigning to attract foreign patients.
Gangnam-gu Office reportedly set 78,000 patients as its target for this year. However, the number of foreigners coming to Korea for cosmetic surgery was adversely affected by Korea's deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery this year.
This is because the Chinese, whose government retaliated against the THAAD installation, account for the largest number of patients according to nationality.
The office is reported to have plans to attract 200,000 patients a year within the next five years.
Following Seocho-gu is Seodaemun-gu, which had 14,505 patients last year. The large number is attributed to the universities located in the district, which have many foreign students.
According to nationality, following Chinese patients were Americans, Japanese, Russians and Kazaks.
The city is working together with local medical institutions to attract foreign patients by providing services such as airport pickups and translation.
It also runs a call center that provides information on medical services in English, Chinese and Japanese.
In addition, the Seoul government is hosting overseas fairs and information sessions, with recent ones being hosted in Moscow, Russia and Kazakhstan this year. The events aim to promote medical services in Seoul, together with tourism programs.
Concerns have been growing that promotion efforts are focused on cosmetic procedures.
In response a city official said "The government is holistically promoting medical services offered in Seoul, and not a specific area."
Data shows foreign patients sought the most services in the areas of internal medicine, followed by cosmetic surgery, dermatology and medical checkups.
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