Dermatology Clinics in Korea: 7 Criteria for International Patients

By Dr. Wontak Choi · Published 2026.10.22

International patient guide · Seoul · Gangnam

Dermatology Clinics in Korea: 7 Criteria

Seven things international patients can check before booking a dermatology clinic in Korea, from registration and specialists to prices, records and aftercare in Seoul. Meet the doctors at Yaan Clinic in Gangnam.

Quick summary

Ratings and reviews of dermatology clinics in Korea mostly reflect the experience of patients who live in Korea. International patients also need criteria they can check for themselves, such as registration, qualifications, pricing, documents and aftercare once they are home.

Every one of the 7 criteria below is something you can check before booking, from public information or with a single question. They are based on Korean rules: registration for treating international patients, disclosure of non-covered treatment prices, and copies of medical records.

We also show how Yaan Clinic in Samseong-dong, Gangnam, Seoul meets each criterion. If this is your first visit to Korea, you may want to read how to choose a skin clinic in Korea first.

Why isn’t a high rating enough when choosing a dermatology clinic in Korea?

Ratings on map apps and social media show results and friendliness, but they say almost nothing about what international patients actually need to know. A rating will not tell you whether an interpreter joins your consultation and treatment, whether you receive consent forms and aftercare instructions in a language you can read, or who to contact if you have side effects after you fly home.

So when choosing a dermatology clinic in Seoul or Gangnam, use ratings as a first filter, then check the 7 criteria below yourself to narrow down your options.

What 7 criteria should international patients check at a dermatology clinic in Korea?

Criterion	Why it matters	How to check
1. Registered to treat international patients	Only clinics with a specialist on staff and malpractice insurance can register	Ask the clinic whether it is registered
2. Specialists by department	Skin conditions call for a board-certified dermatologist; aesthetic treatments call for experience with that treatment	Clinic signage, HIRA hospital search
3. Published prices for non-covered treatments	Most aesthetic treatments are not covered by insurance, so prices differ by clinic	Published price list; ask about VAT and consumables
4. Approved, genuine devices	Genuine devices, tips and cartridges deliver the set energy accurately	Ask for device names and whether genuine tips are used
5. Consent forms and instructions in your language	You need to understand the treatment and its risks before agreeing to it	Ask whether an interpreter joins and what language written instructions are in
6. Medical records and receipts	Needed for follow-up with a doctor at home or for insurance claims	Ask which documents are available and in what language
7. Contact and aftercare after you return home	If side effects appear, the clinic should check your condition and provide follow-up care	Ask about a messenger channel and aftercare guidance

Why should I check whether a Korean clinic is registered to treat international patients?

Under Article 6 of Korea’s Act on Support for Overseas Expansion of Medical System and Attraction of International Patients, medical institutions that want to attract international patients must register with the city or provincial governor. To register, a clinic must have at least one specialist for each department that treats international patients and must have medical malpractice liability insurance or membership in a medical liability mutual aid association, and the registration is renewed every three years.

Registration is therefore a sign that the clinic meets a minimum standard for specialists and liability coverage. Before booking, simply ask: “Are you registered to treat international patients?”

How can I check whether a Korean clinic has a board-certified dermatologist?

The quickest way is the clinic signage. If the clinic name includes “피부과의원” (dermatology clinic), it has a board-certified dermatologist. If dermatology appears only as a department (“진료과목: 피부과”), a doctor from another specialty provides skin care there.

For a more accurate check, search the clinic name in the hospital search of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) to see its departments and specialists. For skin conditions such as eczema or atopic dermatitis, look for a board-certified dermatologist; for aesthetic treatments such as fillers, lifting, skin boosters, lasers, body treatments and body contouring, look at the experience of the doctors who mainly perform that treatment.

What should I check on a Korean dermatology clinic’s price list?

Most aesthetic skin treatments in Korea are non-covered by national health insurance, so prices differ from clinic to clinic. Korea’s Medical Service Act requires medical institutions to disclose non-covered items and their prices so that patients can easily see them, so start by checking whether the clinic publishes its prices.

VAT

Clinics in Korea often quote aesthetic treatment prices with 10% VAT not included.

Consumables and extras

Tips or cartridges may be charged separately. For example, Potenza at Yaan Clinic is ₩400,000 per session plus ₩50,000 for the pore tip (10% VAT not included).

Sessions and intervals

Look at the recommended number of sessions and the interval between them, not just the price of one session, to see whether you can finish within your trip.

Same price for locals and foreigners

Ask before booking whether a different price list applies to international patients.

See the full Yaan Clinic price list.

What should I do if I have a problem after I return home from Korea?

If redness or swelling lasts longer than expected, or you have questions after you fly home, contact the clinic that treated you first. It has the full details of your treatment.

1. Message the clinic with photos

Send photos of the area and your treatment date, and the doctors can check your condition and guide you on follow-up treatment or care if needed. That is why you should confirm before booking that there is a channel you can use after you return home.

2. Get aftercare guidance

Along with the day-of instructions, ask how long redness or swelling may last and which symptoms mean you should contact the clinic right away.

3. Keep a copy of your records

Korea’s Medical Service Act requires clinics to let patients view or receive copies of their own medical records on request. A record of the treatment name, products used and dosage helps if you need to see a doctor at home.

How does Yaan Clinic in Samseong-dong, Gangnam measure up on these criteria?

Yaan Clinic is a premium boutique skin clinic in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, close to Samseong and Bongeunsa stations and COEX. Rather than treating skin conditions, it focuses on aesthetic treatments such as fillers, lifting, skin boosters, collagen treatments, body treatments, body contouring and lasers. Here is how it lines up with the criteria in this guide.

Criterion	Yaan Clinic
Specialists by department	Eight doctors, including a board-certified plastic surgeon. Treatments are performed by the doctors, and a doctor consultation is available on request (medical staff)
Published prices	Published price list, same prices for international and local patients, 10% VAT not included, extras such as tips listed separately
Approved, genuine devices	Genuine devices and genuine tips, with a wide range of lifting and laser devices (equipment)
Your language	A dedicated 1:1 English or Chinese interpreter from the waiting room through consultation, treatment and departure
Aftercare after you return home	Questions after treatment via WhatsApp and KakaoTalk
Liability coverage	Medical liability insurance

If you are also considering a lifting treatment such as Ultherapy, see how many Ultherapy lines you may need. For directions, see how to find Yaan Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q : How can I tell if a Korean clinic is registered for international patients?

A : The surest way is to ask the clinic directly before booking. Registered clinics must have specialists for each department and medical liability insurance or mutual aid membership, and they renew their registration every three years.

Q : Do Korean dermatology prices include VAT?

A : It depends on the clinic. Aesthetic treatments are often quoted with 10% VAT not included, so check the price list. All prices at Yaan Clinic are listed with 10% VAT not included.

Q : Can I get my medical records after a treatment in Korea?

A : Under Korea’s Medical Service Act, patients can view or receive copies of their own medical records on request. The languages available differ by clinic, so check before booking.

Q : Should I see a dermatologist or an aesthetic clinic in Korea?

A : It depends on your goal. Skin conditions such as eczema or atopic dermatitis are usually treated by a board-certified dermatologist, while aesthetic treatments such as fillers, lifting, skin boosters, lasers and body treatments are usually done by doctors with extensive experience in that treatment.

Q : What should I do if I have side effects after returning home?

A : First, contact the clinic that treated you with photos. The doctors will check your condition and guide you on any follow-up treatment or care. Yaan Clinic answers questions after treatment via WhatsApp and KakaoTalk.