Choosing well
Korea medical tourism agency: how to check it is registered
Check two things before you pay a Korea medical tourism agency: that it is registered to attract foreign patients, and that the registration is still valid. Under Korea's Medical Overseas Expansion Act, an agency that is not itself a medical institution must register with the city or provincial government; the registration lasts three years and must be renewed, and the certificate has to be displayed where anyone can see it (law text checked on 15 November 2026). Medical Korea, the government's foreign-patient portal, lists registered facilitators by name and registration number.
What readers ask
“How do I know a Korea medical tourism agency is legitimate?”
“Is a medical tourism company in Korea allowed to take a fee from the clinic?”
Does a Korea medical tourism agency need to be registered?
Yes. Korea's Medical Service Act bans anyone from referring, brokering or inducing patients to a clinic for profit (Article 27, paragraph 3). One of the exceptions is attracting foreign patients who are not enrolled in, or dependants under, Korea's National Health Insurance, and who do not live in Korea. To work under that exception, a company other than a medical institution must register with the mayor or governor of its city or province (Medical Overseas Expansion Act, Article 6, paragraph 2). It needs surety insurance, a minimum amount of capital, and an office in Korea. Insurance companies and insurance agents may not attract foreign patients at all (Medical Service Act, Article 27, paragraph 4). We read both laws on Korea's National Law Information Center on 15 November 2026.
| Rule | What the law says | What you can check |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Register with the city or provincial government; surety insurance, capital and an office in Korea (Article 6) | A registration number and a certificate |
| Validity | Three years from the registration date; renew before it expires (Article 6, paragraphs 6 and 7) | The date on the certificate |
| Display | Post the certificate where anyone can see it, and tell foreign patients about their rights (Article 8) | Ask to see it, or for a clear photo |
| No lending | No one may use another company's name or registration certificate (Article 7) | The name on the certificate matches the name on your invoice |
| Fees | No fees above the range the Minister of Health and Welfare sets, and no false information (Article 9) | Ask who pays the agency and how |
How do you check an agency's registration yourself?
- 01
Ask for the registration number
On the government list, facilitator numbers start with A- and the year, for example A-2024-...
- 02
Search the official list
Open Medical Korea (medicalkorea.or.kr), go to Registered Facilitators and search the company name. The page shows the month it was last updated, so a very recent registration may not appear yet; then ask for the certificate.
- 03
Match the names
The company on the certificate, the website, the contract and the account you pay should be the same company.
- 04
Check the date
The registration should be less than three years old, or renewed.
- 05
Ask how the agency is paid
A clear answer names who pays the fee. A vague one is a reason to slow down.
““The agency had a nice website and lots of reviews, but I could not find a company name anywhere.””
What should you ask a medical tourism company before you send money?
- What is your registration number, and can I see the certificate?
- Which clinic will I be treated at, and which doctor will treat me?
- Will I get a written plan and an itemised quote from the clinic itself?
- Do I pay the clinic directly, or do I pay you? Why?
- Who interprets at the consultation, and who do I contact after I fly home?
What are the warning signs of an unregistered broker?
Registration is a minimum, not a measure of quality. It tells you the company is allowed to do this work in Korea and can be held to the rules above. You still need a written plan from the clinic, the treating doctor's name, and a clear answer about after-care.
COMEDI is a registered foreign-patient facilitator (registration A-2026-01-02-07119). Ask us for the certificate, then tell us your concern and dates; the clinic sends you its own written plan and quote.
Contact COMEDIGeneral information, not medical advice. Your doctor decides what suits you.
Quick answers
Does a Korea medical tourism agency need a licence?
It needs a foreign-patient attraction registration. Under Article 6 of Korea's Medical Overseas Expansion Act, a company that is not a medical institution registers with its city or provincial government, and the registration lasts three years.
How can I check if a Korea medical tourism company is registered?
Ask for its registration number and certificate, then search the company name on Medical Korea's Registered Facilitators page (medicalkorea.or.kr). The certificate name should match your contract and payment account.
Can an insurance company arrange my treatment in Korea?
Not as a patient attraction business. Article 27, paragraph 4 of Korea's Medical Service Act bars insurance companies and insurance agents from attracting foreign patients.
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