Korea expands fast-track visas to spread medical tourism beyond Seoul

Korea is expanding its roster of government-certified medical tourism facilitators to 112 agencies starting Oct. 1, seeking to channel a record-breaking surge in foreign patient visits into regional economies beyond the capital. The Ministry of Justice said Monday that it added 22 institutions to its "Outstanding Facilitator for Foreign Patients" program, reflecting a concerted effort to broaden the economic benefits of K-medical tourism across the country. The policy shift comes after foreign patient visits to Korea topped 2 million for the first time in 2025, according to the Industrial Research Institute. Those 2.01 million medical tourists generated an estimated 22.8 trillion won ($17 billion) in total economic impact. On average, medical visitors spent 6.73 million won per trip, compared to 2.57 million won spent by conventional tourists. Under the expanded program, 89 medical facilities and 23 private agencies hold the official seal of approval. While 90 of these entities remain in the greater Seoul area, the government boosted nonmetropolitan representation from 14 to 22 by revis