피부과·성형외과 찍고 약국까지…K-의료 관광, 5개월 연속 2천억원대

Over the past five months, foreign medical tourists have spent over 2 trillion won in South Korea, according to data from the Korea Tourism Organization's "Korea Tourism Data Lab." This figure represents a 66.5% increase from the same period last year, when foreign medical tourists spent 1.28 trillion won. The surge in spending is primarily driven by visits to dermatology and cosmetic surgery clinics, with additional spending on pharmacy shopping at local pharmacies.

According to the Korea Tourism Data Lab's July 30th report, foreign medical tourists spent 2,130 billion won in July alone, up 66.5% from 1.28 billion won in July 2022. The data is based on card payments made using Hanacard, a major credit card in South Korea. In May, foreign medical tourists spent a record 2,511 billion won, and the trend continued in June and July, with spending hovering around the 2 trillion won mark.

China was the largest spender, with 577 billion won, followed by the United States with 440 billion won, Japan with 285 billion won, Taiwan with 253 billion won, and Singapore with 64 billion won. Dermatology accounted for 54.9% of medical spending, while cosmetic surgery made up 19.3% and pharmacy spending 12.7%. The analysis suggests that pharmacy spending is growing, with pharmacy visits increasing from 5% of total medical spending last year to double-digit percentages in 2023.

Dermatology and cosmetic surgery clinics are increasingly becoming destination shopping spots for foreign tourists, buying everything from facial creams and acne treatments to artificial tears and lip balms. Zaino Kwang, a research analyst at Zaino Kwang Securities, noted that foreign tourists are purchasing a variety of products in pharmacies, including moisturizers, acne treatments, artificial tears, sunscreen, and lip balms.

Kwang highlighted that pharmacies offer an advantage over overseas countries where prescription is required for many products, making it more convenient for foreign tourists to purchase. The analyst also noted that the growing demand for specialized "derma cosmetics" combined with pharmaceutical and biotechnology technologies will likely increase the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korean pharmacies.

However, the concentration of medical tourism in the capital cities remains a challenge, with Seoul accounting for 86.8% of total foreign medical spending. Other major cities, such as Busan (6.4%) and Gyeonggi (3.7%), accounted for smaller shares. To continue the qualitative growth of medical tourism and increase the overall market share, a "regional diversification" strategy that focuses on developing specialized medical infrastructure and related products in non-capital cities is necessary.