Korea’s Cosmetic Tourism Boom: What Thai Readers Should Know
Cosmetic tourism is reshaping travel and health decisions across Asia, with South Korea at the forefront. Apgujeong’s “Plastic Surgery Street” in Gangnam now attracts more international visitors than ever, sparking debates about safety, pricing, and cultural attitudes toward beauty. For Thai readers, this shift offers opportunities and risks as local clinics respond to global competition.
In recent years, Seoul has shifted from being famed for beauty brands and K-pop to becoming a premier destination for cosmetic procedures and dermatology. Official projections aimed to attract 700,000 medical tourists by 2027 now appear conservative, as late-2024 data show nearly 1.2 million international patients. Skin treatments and cosmetic surgery make up a large portion of this influx. Industry analyses note Korea’s openness to aesthetic enhancements, cutting-edge innovations, and aggressive pricing as drivers of demand.