South Korea's Medical Tourism Drives Significant Economic Growth

International patients are a powerful economic force for South Korea. A recent Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) report, leveraging credit card data, revealed medical tourists spend nearly four times more than general tourists, underscoring the immense value of cross-border healthcare.## Economic Impact and SpendingForeign patients collectively spent 3.66 trillion won in South Korea last year. Notably, 2.26 trillion won went to non-medical sectors, surpassing 1.40 trillion won for medical services. Han Dong-woo, director general of the International Medical Division at KHIDI, stated, "Last year, the average card spending per general foreign tourist was 1.07 million won, meaning foreign patients spent nearly four times more," adding, "This confirms that medical tourists generate significantly higher value-added consumption compared with ordinary tourists."Leading medical specialties included dermatology and plastic surgery. Top overall spenders were from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the United Arab Emirates. For medical expenses alone, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and Mongolia led, highlighting their investment in quality of care and patient travel.## Bottom Line1. Medical tourists are a high-value segment, boosting the broader economy.2. Non-medical spending by international patients drives substantial revenue.3. Targeted strategies for key nationalities can maximize wellness tourism benefits.Read the full article here: https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=259018