Facts checked 11 October 2026. General information, not medical advice.
Why Seoul, and what Australian surgeons say
South Korea received 2.01 million foreign patients in 2025 [27]. Dermatology was the largest department with 62.9% of foreign patients, followed by plastic surgery with 233,000 patients, or 11.2% [26]. Seoul alone saw 1.76 million foreign patients, 87.2% of the national total [24].
Those numbers show demand, not outcomes. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons strongly advises against overseas cosmetic surgery tourism, and notes that once you are home, ongoing care would need to be with a new surgical team, at additional cost [50]. Read that view alongside this guide. Questions about whether a procedure suits you, and what recovery involves, belong with the treating surgeon.
Where care is concentrated: Seoul and Gangnam
Seoul had 2,555 medical institutions registered to treat foreign patients in 2025, 62.5% of the national total [25]. With most foreign patients treated in the capital, the practical planning questions are which district, how far from your accommodation, and how you get between them.
Gangnam-gu runs its own Gangnam Medical Tour Center on Apgujeong-ro, operated by the Gangnam-gu Office [40]. The centre introduces medical institutions to patients but does not provide medical services itself [41]. It takes interpretation requests in English and seven other languages, and asks for them at least one week before your visit [42].
From Incheon International Airport, the centre's own directions list airport bus 6006 and Apgujeong Station, exit 6, on Seoul subway line 3 [52]. Ask your clinic for its exact address and nearest subway exit before you book accommodation, because Gangnam is large and a short distance on a map can still mean a taxi ride.
Entry rules for Australian passport holders
Australians need no visa for a short stay, and the K-ETA (Korea's electronic travel authorisation) is not required for now. The K-ETA exemption has a fixed end date, so check it against your travel dates, especially if you might return for a review appointment in 2027.
| Requirement | Rule for Australian passport holders | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa for a short visit | Rule for Australian passport holdersNone needed for stays of up to 90 days [3][53]. A stay longer than 90 days needs a visa obtained before you enter Korea [53] | CostNone for up to 90 days | SourceSmartraveller; Korean Consulate General in Auckland (MOFA) |
| K-ETA | Rule for Australian passport holdersExempt from 1 April 2023 to 31 December 2026 [13][54]. If the exemption is not extended, the official K-ETA site lists a fee of KRW 10,000 and processing usually within 72 hours [55] | CostNone during the exemption | SourceEmbassy of the Republic of Korea in Australia; K-ETA site (Ministry of Justice) |
| Arrival card | Rule for Australian passport holdersSubmit an e-Arrival card online within 3 days before arrival, or fill in a paper form on arrival [4] | CostNone stated | SourceSmartraveller |
| Medical visa (C-3-3) | Rule for Australian passport holdersNot needed for a stay of up to 90 days. The Sydney consulate lists Australia among the countries whose citizens travel with K-ETA, and directs C-3 visas, including C-3-3 (medical), to citizens of other countries [14] | CostNot applicable | SourceConsulate General of Korea in Sydney |
| Cash on arrival | Rule for Australian passport holdersDeclare all means of international payment, including foreign currency over US$10,000 or equivalent [6] | CostNone | SourceSmartraveller |
Getting there: flights and time zone
All the flights below arrive at Incheon International Airport, so allow for the transfer to your accommodation when you plan your first day.
Korea runs on Korea Standard Time, UTC+9, and does not use daylight saving [57]. Seoul is one hour behind Brisbane all year and one hour ahead of Perth. It is one hour behind Sydney and Melbourne in winter and two hours behind during Australian daylight saving, which matters when you book video consultations from home.
| From | Nonstop service | Fastest published flight time |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Nonstop serviceEvery day; Jetstar, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines fly direct [16] | Fastest published flight time10 hr 30 min nonstop [16] |
| Brisbane | Nonstop service4 days a week (Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun) on Korean Air and Jetstar [17] | Fastest published flight time9 hr 50 min nonstop [17] |
| Melbourne | Nonstop serviceNone at the time of checking [18]. Korean Air plans a seasonal nonstop from 18 December 2026 to 14 March 2027, leaving Melbourne at 10:00pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays [20] | Fastest published flight timeCheck with Korean Air |
| Perth | Nonstop serviceNone; connect via another hub [19] | Fastest published flight time12 hr 25 min with stops [19] |
How Korea registers clinics that treat foreign patients
Since 2009 the Ministry of Health and Welfare has run a Foreign Patient Attraction Institution Registration System, and in 2016 it made medical malpractice liability insurance mandatory for registered institutions [21]. Attracting foreign patients without registering can bring up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won [22], about A$32,000 at the RBA rate of 936.24 won per dollar on 9 October 2026 [43].
The government's Medical Korea register of hospitals and clinics showed 4,160 entries on 11 October 2026, searchable by hospital type and region, with each listing's address and international healthcare centre phone number [23]. Separately, the Minister of Health and Welfare evaluates and certifies institutions for excellence in serving foreign patients; 15 had been certified as of January 2025 [35].
Since 25 September 2023, Korea's Medical Service Act has required medical institutions that operate on unconscious patients to install CCTV in the operating room, and to film the surgery if the patient or a guardian asks [39]. A hospital can refuse only on grounds the law sets, such as emergency or high-risk surgery, and must explain the refusal in advance [58]. Footage is kept for at least 30 days [39] and released only to investigators, courts or K-Medi, or with the consent of everyone filmed [58]. If you want a recording, ask for it in writing when you book.
- Search the clinic's exact name on the Medical Korea register, and compare its address and phone number with the details the clinic has given you [23].
- Ask for a copy of its foreign-patient registration certificate. The Sydney consulate already lists this document for medical visas [15].
- Ask for proof of malpractice insurance. Smartraveller advises making sure your surgeon and hospital have indemnity and malpractice insurance [46].
- Ask for the operating surgeon's full name and Korean specialist qualification in writing, and confirm that the same surgeon will operate.
- Smartraveller advises avoiding discounted or uncertified medical service providers in South Korea [7].
If something goes wrong: Korea's mediation body
The Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency (K-Medi) operates under the Act on Remedies for Injuries from Medical Malpractice and Mediation of Medical Disputes, in force since 8 April 2012. It aims to settle the amount of damages within 90 days, with a maximum of 120 days [37].
A foreign patient living outside Korea can apply by email or fax, to kmedi@k-medi.or.kr [36]. The application fee is 22,000 won for claims of 5 million won or less, about A$23.50 at the RBA rate above [43], and rises with the amount claimed: 32,000 won for a 10 million won claim [38].
The government's Medical Korea Information Center, now at Seoul Station, offers foreign patients a one-stop dispute consultation service, from first counselling through to help with a K-Medi submission [33]. Keep every document in English and Korean: consent forms, receipts, the operating surgeon's name and your discharge papers.
Money, payments and the VAT refund
Korea's currency is the won (KRW). You can change Australian dollars at local banks and money changers, and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops and taxis in cities [5]. ATMs in cities may not accept some foreign debit cards [6], so carry more than one card. Some airlines and travel providers in Korea don't accept foreign credit cards for online flight bookings [11], which matters if your return date moves.
Ask for every quote in won and in writing, and convert it yourself on the day you pay. On 9 October 2026 the RBA rate was 936.24 won per Australian dollar [43], so a 10 million won quote was about A$10,700.
Until the end of 2025, foreign tourists could reclaim VAT on cosmetic procedures at registered clinics [30], and the Ministry of Health and Welfare listed those refunds as one driver of 2025's growth [28]. The tax law now limits the refund to services supplied by 31 December 2025, and the National Assembly left it out of its December 2025 tax-law revision [29]. A bill to bring it back until 2029 was introduced in August 2026 [31], but unless it becomes law, there is no refund. Budget on paying the full price, and ask the clinic in writing whether its quote includes VAT.
What a written quote should state
We found no current, dated price list on a Gangnam clinic's own English pages when we checked on 11 October 2026, so this guide has no price table. A quote depends on the surgeon, the technique, any hospital stay and what is bundled. Ask for these items in writing before paying a deposit.
| Ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Total price in KRW, and whether VAT is included | Why it mattersAvoids a surprise if VAT is added at payment |
| Consultation fee, and whether it is credited to surgery | Why it mattersSome trips end at consultation if the surgeon declines |
| Tests, anaesthetist's fee, garments and anything else billed separately | Why it mattersThese are often itemised separately |
| Number of review appointments included | Why it mattersYour accommodation dates depend on them |
| Deposit amount and refund terms | Why it mattersYou may have little practical recourse once you are home |
| Operating surgeon's name, and interpreter arrangements | Why it mattersLets you check registration and plan communication |
| Whether you can request CCTV recording | Why it mattersSettles it before the day, not on it |
| English copies of records and discharge notes | Why it mattersYour doctor in Australia will need them |
Language and getting around
Smartraveller says the standard of medical care in Korea is good, but few staff speak English [56]. Ask each clinic in writing who will interpret at consultation, on the day of surgery and at reviews.
The Medical Korea Information Center offers consultations in English, Chinese, Japanese and Russian, in person or through Medical Call on 1577-7129 [32]. It is in basement 2 of the Airport Railroad station at Seoul Station [34].
Rideshare apps operate in Korea, and international taxi services may have English-speaking drivers [10]. In an emergency, 119 is a 24/7 ambulance line with English interpreters available [8]. Check that any medicine you bring is legal in Korea, because some medicines prescribed by an Australian doctor may not be [12].
Australian checklist: cover, consumer law and follow-up
Medicare won't cover you in another country [47]. If you hold private health insurance, ask your fund in writing what, if anything, it pays toward treatment overseas or follow-up care at home.
Smartraveller says basic travel insurance policies rarely cover medical tourism, and advises getting a specialised policy that covers your specific procedure [44]. Read the product disclosure statement and tell the insurer about the surgery, or the policy may not respond.
The Australian Consumer Law applies to overseas businesses conducting business within Australia, but Consumer Affairs Victoria warns you may have practical difficulties getting a refund or remedy from an overseas business [48]. Smartraveller advises learning your legal rights in the destination and whether you can take legal action against the hospital and surgeon [45].
In Australia, the Medical Board's guidelines make the practitioner who performs cosmetic surgery responsible for the patient's ongoing post-operative care [49]. A surgeon in Seoul is not bound by those guidelines, so arrange a GP or specialist at home before you leave. Ahpra's cosmetic surgery hub sets out what to ask before cosmetic surgery [51].
Smartraveller advice level and emergency contacts
Smartraveller's overall advice for South Korea is 'Exercise normal safety precautions', last updated 10 August 2026 and still current on 11 October 2026 [1]. For consular help, the Australian Embassy is on the 19th floor of Kyobo Building, Jongno-gu, phone +82 2 2003 0100 [9]. Subscribe to Smartraveller updates before you fly.
Hospitals and clinics we list
The directory below lists South Korean hospitals and clinics with their published details. A listing is not a recommendation; check each one on the Medical Korea register yourself.
How Beauty Broker can help
Beauty Broker is an Australian care-coordination service. We match your goals to a surgeon and hospital we have an arrangement with, organise the consultation, surgery date, pre-operative requirements and records directly with the hospital, help with transfers and advise on flights and where to stay. We are not a clinic and give no clinical advice; suitability is always the surgeon's decision. Our fee is a flat A$499 care-coordination fee, fully refundable if you change your mind before surgery or the surgeon says surgery is not right for you. Partner hospitals pay us a referral fee. See how it works and our fees.
