Choosing well
Why Korean clinic websites show no patient reviews, and how to read the rest
Korea's Medical Service Act bars clinics from advertising with patients' treatment stories that could mislead people about results. So a careful Korean clinic will not fill its own site with testimonials, and glowing stories that come from the clinic itself deserve extra caution. Reviews on independent platforms still help, if you read them for facts rather than for feelings.
What readers ask
“Why does the clinic website have no reviews at all?”
“Can I trust the before-and-after photos on Instagram?”
What does Korean law say about patient reviews in advertising?
Article 56(2) of the Medical Service Act lists advertising that doctors and clinics may not run. Item 2 is advertising with patients' treatment stories or similar content that could mislead consumers about the effect of treatment. The same list also bars false content, comparisons with other doctors, exaggeration and leaving out serious side effects. Clinic advertising in Korea is therefore meant to be plain, and a clinic that looks too much like a highlight reel is worth questioning.
Which reviews are worth reading?
| Source | Useful for | Be careful about |
|---|---|---|
| Independent map and review platforms | Logistics: waiting, language, how staff handled questions | Star averages; a few loud reviews; reviews offered in exchange for a discount |
| Community threads (for example Reddit) | Specific questions people asked and answers they got | One person's result does not predict yours |
| Influencer posts | Seeing what a visit looks like | Sponsored visits are not always labelled clearly |
| The clinic's own channels | Opening hours, devices offered, doctors listed | Results presented as typical |
How do you read a review for facts?
- Does it say which treatment, which device or product, and how much? Vague praise is not information.
- Does it mention which doctor treated them, and whether that was the doctor they met?
- Does it describe what happened after: swelling, follow-up, how a complaint was handled?
- Is it recent? Doctors and staff move between clinics.
““Hundreds of five-star reviews. Isn't that enough?””
It tells you many people left satisfied, which is useful. It does not tell you whether the plan suits your skin, who will treat you, or what is in the quote. Those you can only check by asking the clinic directly and getting answers in writing.
- 01
Shortlist from facts
Use reviews to rule out clinics with repeated logistics or communication problems.
- 02
Ask the same questions to each
Treating doctor, product or device and amount, written itemised quote.
- 03
Compare written answers
A clear written answer is more reliable than any rating.
Send us your concern. We collect written answers from clinics so you compare facts, not ratings.
Contact COMEDIGeneral information, not medical advice. Your doctor decides what suits you.
Quick answers
Why don't Korean clinic websites show patient reviews?
Korea's Medical Service Act, Article 56(2) item 2, bars clinics from advertising with patients' treatment stories that could mislead people about results. Careful clinics keep testimonials off their own advertising.
Are Korean clinic reviews on Google or Reddit reliable?
They are useful for practical facts such as waiting, language and how questions were handled. A single result does not predict yours, so confirm the treating doctor, product and quote with the clinic in writing.
Should I trust before-and-after photos from Korean clinics?
Treat them with caution. Results vary between people, and photos do not show who treated the patient, the exact plan or how long the result lasted.
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