By Yun Suh-young

Foreigners visiting Korea will soon be able to get medical attention here at reduced financial risks.

The National Association of Global Medical Tourism said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dongbu Insurance on May 7 to make a liability insurance package available to foreigners in three months time.

“There has never been a liability insurance product for foreigners to claim for medical malpractice and disputes until now,” an association official said.

“The insurance will cover all areas of medical practice ranging from plastic surgery to health checkups, dentistry and ophthalmology to Oriental medicine. The insurance will protect foreigners for a wide range of medical disputes,” he said.

The association hopes the measure will boost the medical tourism industry in Korea.

“We are trying to establish the standard medical fee for Korean medical services which will provide a guideline for foreign patients on Korea’s medical service costs. We hope this measure along with the insurance product will boost Korea’s medical tourism industry,” the official said.