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From K-Pop to K-Glow: Lasers, Facial Firming Drive South Korea's New Tourism Wave
Foreign visitors are choosing lasers, Botox and skin lifting as 2 million people sought medical treatment last year, officials said.
- South Korea hosted over 2 million foreign medical tourists last year, nearly doubling the 1.17 million recorded in 2024, according to the health ministry.
- Intense competition among about 15,000 clinics keeps prices affordable, with foreign patients averaging a $1,000 spend per visit, while South Korean expertise often offers technologies years ahead of the West.
- Visitors increasingly seek non-invasive procedures like Botox and 'skin lifting' to tighten jawlines, with social media video editor Cindy Gu, from the United States, citing the variety of K-beauty treatments available.
- The Korea Health Industry Development Institute now prioritizes attracting foreign patients, as Director Hong Seung-wook noted that medical spending currently outpaces traditional tourism in the country.
- Beyond immediate medical visits, travelers like Mexican Maria expressed interest in living in South Korea, while viral hashtags such as #koreaglowup amplify the trend among global social media enthusiasts.
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11 Articles
K-pop to K-glow: Beauty treatments drive a new boom for South Korea
A growing number of foreign visitors are traveling to South Korea not just for its music, food and culture, but for its booming beauty industry. Drawn by lower costs and advanced techniques, tourists are increasingly adding skincare procedures to their itineraries — turning K-beauty into a major driver of medical tourism.
·Bangkok, Thailand
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From K-pop to K-glow: lasers, facial firming drive South Korea’s new tourism wave
Mexican Maria Zu first visited Seoul eight years ago to tour the cafes and parks of the South Korean capital, but spent a key part of her latest trip in April in skincare clinics, under the gaze of doctors wielding laser wands and injection needles.
·Toronto, Canada
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left2Leaning Right5Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
L 20%
C 30%
R 50%
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