Under emergency situation, if a foreigner calls 119, the call will be connected with personnel in charge who provides interpretation service in the corresponding foreign language to enable effective communication through tripartite conversation.

Interpretation is provided in English, Japanese and Chinese, and foreigners residing in areas other than Seoul will be connected with (free interpretation service).

Returning of VAT after departure from the country is stipulated under Article 5 of the Announcement on special provisions on returning of VAT for aesthetic procedures, cosmetic surgery and medical services for foreign tourists

Accordingly, if foreign tourist departs the country through the departure port not equipped with service for refunding of VAT, it is possible to have the VAT refunded if the tourist departs Korea after having completed and submitted form for consent to provide departure information and confirmation of the medical service supply (refund statement) in the collection box for forms in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1 of Article 5.

For additional inquiries on the method of having VAT refunded, please contact the Medical Korea Support Center (1577-7129).

The ‘document to evidence the medical purposes issued by medical institution’ among the documents that must be submitted at the time of application for medical visa issued refer to the following:

- Those wanting to enter Korea for simple health check-up, etc.: Certificate of appointment with the corresponding hospital

- Those wanting to treat specific diseases, etc.: Medical certificate and/or opinion letter issued in Korea or home country, and the certificate of  appointment with the corresponding hospital in Korea.

- Since invitation letter is not a legal form, it can be drafted at the discretion of the inviting institution. Information to be included are the same as other general invitation letter for visa issuance including purpose and reason for invitation, issues related to diseases, schedule and business registration certificate of the inviting institution, etc.

It is possible to apply extension of the stay in Korea on behalf of the foreign patient by bringing document to evidence that the person is the legal representative of the patient including power of attorney, identification, employment certificate and/or medical certificate (opinion letter), etc. by the institution enticing or treating the foreign patient, and agency for handling of immigration civil petition duties in accordance with the ‘Regulations on represenrtative for application and reception of various permits for stay in Korea, etc.’

Institution enticing foreign patients registered with the foreigner bureau (office and branch office) of immigration office with jurisdiction over the location of the business site can do so by applying for visa issuance by submitting letter of recognition of visa issuance, etc. for invitation of foreign patients and their family to the competent diplomatic office in overseas through the visa portal of the Republic of Korea (www.visa.go.kr).

Meanwhile, institutions designated as outstanding institution in enticing medical tourism can apply issuance of visa for the foreign patients and their families to be invited through the visa portal of the Republic of Korea. If visa issuance approval is acquired, foreign patient can enter Korea by bringing electronic visa issuance confirmation letter and passport, etc. without having to make application to overseas diplomatic office of Korea.

The upper limit of appropriate fees chargeable in enticing foreign patients:

① 15% for top ranked general hospitals

② 20% for general hospitals and private hospitals

③ 30% for medical clinic.

It is illegal to enter into contract or transacting with unregistered company for enticing of foreign patients. Therefore, it is essential to check whether the corresponding company is officially registered by making inquiries to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.

Evaluation standards for designation of medical institution registered for enticing of foreign patients under the KAHF by the Ministry of Health & Welfare include the following:

① Performances in enticing of foreign patients

② Performances in promotions and activities to entice foreign patients

③ Specialized personnel held to entice foreign patients

④ Extent of contributions made towards domestic medical services

⑤ Other issues that the Minister of Health & Welfare designated as being necessary for evaluation of the institution including current status of disputes related to enticing and treatment of foreign patients.

In addition, it is possible to use the mark that the designated medical institution has been designated to entice foreign patients in accordance with the relevant Presidential Order.

Issues for which support can be provided by the central and autonomous regional government include:

① Promotions at home or abroad

② Establishment of foundation for employment of specialized personnel for enticing of foreign patients

③ Other issues stipulated by Presidential Order as being necessary for activation of enticing of foreign patients.

For more details, refer to the open notice board of the information system on enticing of foreign patients of Korea Health Industry Development Institute (medicalkorea.khidi.or.kr).

Please check whether refunding of VAT is possible with the corresponding medical institution prior to the procedure.

Then, bring your passport and visit the medical institution to have certificate of medical service supply (refund statement) issued by the medical institution along with payment of the treatment costs.

Please contact the Medical Korea Support Center (1577-7129) for further inquiries on the methods of VAT refund.

Although Koreans undergoing cosmetic surgery in Korea need to pay 10% VAT, the system of refunding this 10% VAT to foreign tourists has been implemented since April 1, 2016.

To check whether the medical institution you want to make appointment with is qualified to refund VAT, visit the website of Medical Korea (http://visitmedicalkorea.com/) or make inquiry with the Medical Korea Support Center (1577-7129).

Although there is no set No. of and period for reapplication for issuance of visa in the event of application through online (Visa issuance recognition certificate and electronic visa), there are situations in which limits are set for reapplication in accordance with the internal regulations of the overseas diplomatic offices if applying directly to such offices.

Medical institution wanting to entice foreign patients needs to subscribe to liability insurance for medical accident compensation or medical compensation mutual benefit association.

The annual limit of compensation is 100 million KRW for medical clinic and private hospital, and 200 million KRW for general hospitals.

In addition, such subion must be maintained continuously throughout the validity period of registration for enticing of foreign patients.

The range of foreign patients generally acknowledged is:

① Those whose nationality is not the Republic of Korea;

② Holder of medical visa (however, registered foreigner and holder of health insurance are excluded);

③ Foreigner who is not a subscriber or dependent family in accordance with the Article 93 of the  National Health Protection Act

④ Foreigner who has not reported residence or not registered as an alien in Korea

⑤ US Military personnel and their family in Korea, and staffs of overseas missions and international organizations in Korea

Koreans with foreign nationality (however, registered aliens are excluded).

Medical tourism refers to engagement in activities such as treating one’s diseases, or maintaining, recovering and enhancing health by traveling to other region or overseas country away from one’s place of residence through local medical institution, nursing institution and/or recreation institution, etc.

Tourists can also enjoy activities such as recuperation, tourism, shopping and cultural experiences, etc. depending on their health conditions.

Medical tourism businesses (to entice foreign patients) are currently being cultivated since the implementation of revised Medical Service Act in 2009 as one of the next generation new growth engine industries in the Republic of Korea.

Korea Health Industry Development Institute published and uploaded [Multilingual collection of forms for foreign patients] produced in various languages including explanation on and various informed consents for procedures at medical institutions that foreign patients visit frequently in its website for the convenience of treatment of foreign patients at medical institutions.

* Korea Health Industry Development Institute (www.khidi.or.kr) → Trend and information → Report

Since invitation letter for foreign patients is not a legal form, it can be drafted at the discretion of the inviting institution. Information to be included are the same as other general invitation letter for visa issuance including purpose and reason for invitation, issues related to diseases, schedule and business registration certificate of the inviting institution, etc. 

Source: Visa and Residence Division of Immigration Policy Bureau of Foreigner Policy Headquarters of Immigration Department of Ministry of Justice

Institution enticing foreign patients registered with the foreigner bureau (office and branch office) of immigration office with jurisdiction over the location of the business site can do so by applying for visa issuance by submitting letter of recognition of visa issuance, etc. for invitation of foreign patients and their family to the competent diplomatic office in overseas through the visa portal of the Republic of Korea (www.visa.go.kr).

If visa issuance approval is acquired, foreign patient can enter Korea by bringing electronic visa issuance confirmation letter and passport, etc. without having to make application to overseas diplomatic office of Korea.

Source: Visa and Residence Division of Immigration Policy Bureau of Foreigner Policy Headquarters of Immigration Department of Ministry of Justice

Gwangju Medical Tourism Support Center is providing translation and interpretation services for the convenience of the medical tourists.

Medical institution and businesses registered for enticing of foreign patients in accordance with the Article 6 of the [Law on provision of support for overseas expansion of medical services and enticing of foreign patients] can use such services.

Support is given in a total of 7 foreign languages including English, Chinese, Russian, Mongolian, Vietnamese, Japanese and Cambodian.

Support for interpretation for picking up medical tourists, and examination and treatment of foreign patients, translation for introduction of treatments and institution are available.

For more detail, inquire with Gwangju Medical Tourism Support Center (☏ 062-714-3431).

It is aimed at the prevention of corruption in the orderliness of domestic medical market arising from indiscriminate enticement of foreign patients by having only medical institutions and businesses capable of meeting prescribed requisites to be registered as authorized organizations.

As such, it has been established to prevent degradation of the quality of public medical services in excessive competition in enticing of foreign patients and to prevent tarnishing of the external images of medical services of Korea that could occur due to overcrowding of the market by unqualified medical institution and businesses.

You can contact Bureau of registration of businesses for enticing of foreign patients of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute using the following contact details:

☏ 1600-6767 (exchange 1) or medicalkorea@khidi.or.kr

If those who were issued with registration certificate wish to have them reissued due to loss or damage, application for reissuance of registration certificate needs to be submitted to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.

The original copy of the already issued registration certificate must be returned along with the reason for the loss