MAKE THE
difference.COMEDI FIELD NOTES
What people asked this week
“My quote from one clinic was ₩27 million. When I asked the same clinic through KakaoTalk, it dropped to ₩7 million. Do you check the Korean price?”
r/KoreaPlasticSurgery · 16 upvotes · 14 comments“The consultation felt rushed. I kept saying I didn't want the tip raised, ran out of time and the surgeon left for another patient. I ignored the red flags and went ahead.”
r/KoreaPlasticSurgery · 16 upvotes · 14 comments
The gap is real, and people usually find it by accident
This week a patient on Reddit described a quote of ₩27 million that became ₩7 million when they asked the same clinic again through KakaoTalk, the messaging app Koreans use. We could not verify that case, and it is not typical in size. But the pattern behind it is common enough that it deserves a plain explanation.
Foreign patients usually reach a clinic through an English website, an international desk, an agency or an influencer link. Each of those channels can carry its own cost: coordinators, interpreters, marketing, and sometimes a commission paid to whoever sent you. Korean-language channels often show the domestic event price instead.
What changed on 1 January 2026
From April 2016, foreign visitors could claim back the VAT on cosmetic procedures at registered clinics. Korea's 2025 tax revision did not renew that rule, and it ended on 31 December 2025. Quotes in Korea usually include VAT, so the refund was worth roughly 9% of what you paid, minus the refund operator's fee.
Two bills to restore the refund were introduced in 2026, one to the end of 2027 and one to the end of 2029. As of 5 October 2026 neither had passed. Older blog posts that counted the refund into their 'how much cheaper than home' math are now about 9% too optimistic.
Not every extra cost is a rip-off
A medical interpreter in the consultation room, airport pickup and a coordinator who answers you after you fly home are real services, and they cost money. The problem is not that they exist. The problem is not knowing they are inside the number you were given.
So the useful question is not 'how do I get the Korean price?' It is 'which parts of this quote are surgery, and which parts are service?'
Five questions to ask before you pay a deposit
Ask in writing, so the answers stay with you:
- Is VAT included in this price?
- Who am I talking to: the clinic itself, or a third party? If it is an agency, is it registered with the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare as a foreign patient facilitator, and how is it paid?
- Which surgeon will operate, and does choosing a specific surgeon cost extra?
- What is included: anaesthesia, pre-op tests, follow-up visits, and the revision policy?
- What happens to my deposit if I cancel, or if the surgeon says I am not a good candidate?
The consultation is part of the price
The second post above is the one that stays with us. The patient knew what they did not want, the consultation ran out of time, and they went ahead anyway.
A cheaper quote with a consultation too short to answer your questions is not cheaper. If you cannot get your questions answered before surgery, that is information about what happens after it.
You do not need us to do this
Any registered facilitator should be able to show you its registration number and explain how it is paid. Ours is A-2026-01-02-07119. Whoever you use, get the itemised quote first.
Quick answers
Do foreigners pay more for plastic surgery in Korea?
Often, but not always. Foreign patients are frequently quoted through channels that add coordination, interpretation or referral costs. Ask for an itemised quote and ask whether VAT is included.
Can foreigners still get a VAT refund on plastic surgery in Korea in 2026?
No. The VAT refund for foreign visitors' cosmetic procedures ended on 31 December 2025. Bills to restore it were introduced in 2026 but, as of 5 October 2026, had not passed.
Is it legal for an agency to take a commission?
Foreign patient facilitators in Korea must register with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Ask any agency for its registration number and how it is paid before you share medical details.
Sources
General planning information, not a diagnosis or a personalised treatment recommendation. Medical questions belong with a qualified clinician.