Choosing well
Hospitals in Seoul for foreigners: which type do you need?
It depends on what you need. Korea's Medical Service Act sorts medical facilities into clinic-level facilities (uiwon), where doctors mainly see outpatients, and hospital-level facilities, where doctors mainly treat inpatients; a hospital needs at least 30 beds and a general hospital at least 100 (law text checked on 14 November 2026). For skin treatments you will usually be choosing between clinics. A hospital-level facility matters when surgery may need an overnight stay, and a general hospital is where you go for illness or an emergency.
What readers ask
“Are there hospitals in Seoul for foreigners, or do I just go to any clinic?”
“Is a 'clinic' in Korea less safe than a 'hospital'?”
What is the difference between a clinic and a hospital in Korea?
Article 3 of Korea's Medical Service Act defines it. Clinic-level facilities are where a doctor, dentist or Korean medicine doctor mainly treats outpatients: a clinic (uiwon), a dental clinic or a Korean medicine clinic. Hospital-level facilities are where they mainly treat inpatients: a hospital, a dental hospital, a Korean medicine hospital, a long-term care hospital, a psychiatric hospital and a general hospital. A hospital must have at least 30 beds (Article 3-2). A general hospital must have at least 100 beds and, between 100 and 300 beds, at least seven departments with a dedicated specialist in each (Article 3-3). We read these articles in the version in force from 12 November 2026, on 14 November 2026.
| Type | What the law says | Usually fits | Ask before booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinic (uiwon) | Mainly outpatients | Skin treatments, injections, lasers, day procedures | Which specialty is the doctor who treats me? |
| Hospital (byeongwon) | Mainly inpatients, 30 beds or more | Surgery where an overnight stay is possible | Will I stay overnight, and who watches me? |
| General hospital | 100 beds or more, set departments with dedicated specialists | Illness, tests, emergencies | Is there an international patient desk? |
Which type should a foreigner choose for skin treatment?
For skin care and most non-surgical treatments you will be comparing clinics, because these are outpatient visits. The type of facility tells you how it is set up, not how good it is. Two things matter more: which specialty the treating doctor holds, and whether the doctor who examines you is the one who treats you. Under Article 77, only a doctor recognised as a specialist may display a specialty, so ask the doctor directly which specialty they hold.
““Every sign in Gangnam says clinic. I could not tell which ones were real hospitals.””
When does a hospital-level facility matter?
When the plan involves surgery, general anaesthesia or a possible overnight stay. Before surgery, a transfusion or general anaesthesia, the doctor must explain the plan and get your written consent, including the name of the main doctor taking part; if that doctor changes, the clinic must tell you in writing (Article 24-2). Where surgery is done with the patient unconscious, the operating room must have CCTV, and filming starts at the patient's request (Article 38-2). Ask where you will recover and who watches you afterwards, whatever the facility type.
- 01
Write down what you want treated
Skin concern, surgery, or a health problem. This decides the facility type more than anything else.
- 02
Match the type
Clinic for outpatient skin treatment; hospital-level facility if an overnight stay is possible; general hospital for illness or emergencies.
- 03
Check the doctor
Ask which specialty the treating doctor holds and get the name in the written plan.
- 04
Ask about after-care
Who checks on you after sedation or anaesthesia, and what number to call at night.
- 05
Know the nearest general hospital
Note one near your hotel for anything urgent that is not about your treatment.
Tell us what you want treated and your dates. We suggest the right type of facility and ask for a written plan with the treating doctor's name.
Contact COMEDIGeneral information, not medical advice. Your doctor decides what suits you.
Quick answers
Can foreigners go to hospitals in Seoul?
Yes. Clinics and hospitals in Seoul treat foreign visitors. Choose the type by need: a clinic for outpatient skin treatment, a hospital-level facility if an overnight stay is possible, a general hospital for illness or emergencies.
Is a clinic (uiwon) less safe than a hospital in Korea?
The type reflects size and whether it mainly treats outpatients or inpatients, not quality. Check the treating doctor's specialty and get their name in the written plan.
What is a general hospital in Korea?
Under Article 3-3 of the Medical Service Act, a general hospital has at least 100 beds and set departments with dedicated specialists. It is the place for illness, tests and emergencies.
Treatment guides
IF THIS IS YOUR CONCERN