01-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Inside South Korea's foreign medical tourism boom, and how K-pop and K-drama act as draws
By Park Ung
Advertisement
Cars, ships and semiconductors have long dominated Korea's list of major exports. Then, cultural content such as K-pop, dramas and foods became major attractions for foreigners.
But with a surge in medical tourists, a new contender has been rapidly gaining ground: plastic surgery. In 2023, 114,074 foreigners visited Seoul for cosmetic enhancements.
Among the diverse international clientele drawn to the city for
plastic surgery this year was Nguyen Thi Huyen, a 26-year-old marketer from Vietnam.
LED light therapy devices promote skin regeneration, improve elasticity and aid in wound healing. Photo: courtesy of View Plastic Surgery
'I had facial contouring surgery to make my jawline slimmer. That included cheekbone reduction, jaw angle reduction and chin reshaping,' she says, adding that several of her Vietnamese friends also came to Seoul for cosmetic procedures.
Advertisement
