By Kim Da-hee
Illegal brokers have been charged with taking large commissions from Chinese medical tourists who were hoping to enhance their looks, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency tourist police said Monday.
Nine brokers, including two Chinese and seven Koreans, arranged plastic surgery for 64 Chinese tourists at two clinics in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from April 2014 to May 2015, police said. The brokers did not have a license to practice medical brokerage.
Along with the arrangement, the brokers took about 100 million won ($87,000) as commissions, almost half the surgeries’ cost, they said.
Police are seeking four other Chinese brokers on the same charge. It was alleged one had been staying illegally in Korea since December 2010.
Under medical law, those who want to be a broker have to meet several conditions, including having surety insurance and capital of at least 100 million won.
“Police will crack down on illegal brokers because they cause negative impacts on medical tourism,” police said.