Indonesia Follows Saudi Arabia and More in Boosting South Korea Medical Tourism Demand With Growing Interest

Indonesia is following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia and others as the South Korean medical tourism industry continues its rise to global prominence. Medical tourism in South Korea is witnessing a surge in international attention and transaction volume, as foreign individual begin to consider both domestic and international travel options for their health care needs. An increasing number of patients from Asia, the Middle East and beyond are turning to South Korea for breakthrough treatments, specialized care and reliable medical services.

The rising demand has been highlighted through the 2025 Overseas Awareness Survey of Korean Medical Services, which examined global perceptions of Korean healthcare among consumers in multiple international markets. The survey showed that six out of 10 overseas consumers expressed an intention to visit South Korea for medical services or medical tourism, reflecting increasing confidence in the country’s healthcare capabilities.

The findings indicate that medical travel is becoming an important part of South Korea’s international tourism landscape. Alongside leisure visitors attracted by Korean culture, food and entertainment, a new group of international travellers is arriving for healthcare-related journeys that often include longer stays, accommodation needs and local tourism activities.

Indonesia Joins Saudi Arabia and Other Markets Showing Strong Medical Travel Interest

Among the countries surveyed, Indonesia emerged as one of the strongest markets showing interest in South Korea medical tourism, following closely behind leading Middle Eastern markets. The intention to visit South Korea for medical services reached high levels among several countries.

The survey recorded the following interest levels:

• Saudi Arabia recorded the highest intention at 90.8%
• Indonesia followed with 89.5%
• The United Arab Emirates reached 82.5%

Overall, 61.2% of international respondents said they planned to visit South Korea for medical services or medical tourism in the future, marking an increase from the previous year.

This growing interest highlights the expanding role of healthcare travel in international tourism. Countries with rising demand are increasingly looking beyond traditional holiday experiences and exploring destinations that offer advanced treatment options, reliable hospitals and opportunities to combine recovery with cultural exploration.

For South Korea, markets such as Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE represent important opportunities for expanding international patient arrivals, strengthening connections between healthcare providers, travel services and destination experiences.

South Korea Becomes the Most Preferred Medical Tourism Destination

South Korea has strengthened its position as a leading destination for overseas healthcare services. Among respondents who showed interest in receiving medical treatment abroad, South Korea ranked as the most preferred country.

The preference results showed:

• South Korea ranked first with 37.3%
• The United States followed with 33.4%
• Japan ranked third with 30.7%

The results demonstrate that South Korea’s healthcare reputation has grown significantly among international consumers. The country is increasingly being recognised for advanced medical technology, specialised treatments and efficient healthcare services.

Among consumers who selected South Korea among their top choices, the main reasons included:

• Higher medical service standards compared with their home countries – 41.2%
• Strong trust in Korean hospitals and healthcare systems – 35.4%
• Recommendations and personal experiences shared by others – 27%

These factors are helping South Korea attract travellers who are seeking not only treatment but also confidence, convenience and quality during their medical journeys.

Rising Awareness of Korean Healthcare Supports International Travel Growth

Global awareness of Korean medical services has continued to improve. The survey found that 70.1% of respondents were aware of the quality level of Korean medical services, representing a rise compared with the previous year.

Awareness was particularly high in several important international markets:

• Indonesia – 90.3%
• Vietnam – 88.3%
• China – 85.3%
• Saudi Arabia – 84.5%

The increasing recognition of Korean healthcare is supporting the country’s wider tourism ecosystem. Medical travellers often require additional travel services, including flights, accommodation, transportation, interpretation support and longer-term stays.

As awareness grows, South Korea is positioned to attract more international visitors who combine healthcare appointments with tourism activities, creating wider economic opportunities beyond hospitals and clinics.

Healthcare Technology and Korean Innovation Drive Medical Tourism Appeal

The survey showed that South Korea’s image as a technology-focused nation is playing an important role in attracting international medical travellers.

When respondents were asked why they preferred South Korea, the leading reasons were:

• Recognition of South Korea as a technology powerhouse – 38.5%
• High levels of medical services and healthcare technology – 31.8%

South Korea’s reputation extends across several biohealth sectors. The country ranked highly in perceptions of global leadership:

• Cosmetics ranked first for the second consecutive year
• Medical services ranked third
• Pharmaceuticals ranked fourth
• Medical devices ranked fifth

These results show that international consumers increasingly associate South Korea with innovation, scientific development and advanced healthcare solutions.

Foreign Patient Numbers Cross One Million as Medical Tourism Expands

The growth in consumer interest is reflected in actual international patient arrivals. South Korea recorded significant growth in foreign patients visiting domestic medical institutions.

In 2024:

• 1,170,467 foreign patients received treatment in South Korea
• The number increased by 93.2% compared with the previous year
• It marked the first time annual foreign patient numbers exceeded one million since international patient attraction programmes began in 2009

This increase demonstrates the growing connection between healthcare and international travel. Foreign patients often travel with family members or companions, creating additional demand for hotels, restaurants, transportation services and tourism activities.

Medical tourism therefore contributes not only to healthcare development but also to the broader visitor economy.

International Visitors Report Higher Satisfaction With Korean Medical Services

Positive experiences among actual users have further strengthened South Korea’s medical tourism reputation.

The survey showed that consumers who had used Korean medical institutions gave an overall satisfaction score of 75.3 points.

This was higher than the satisfaction score for medical services in their home countries, which stood at 69.5 points.

Korean healthcare received particularly strong evaluations in areas such as:

• Waiting time satisfaction, which scored 14.7 points higher than home-country services
• Price and cost satisfaction, which scored 10 points higher

These results indicate that efficiency, affordability and service quality are becoming important factors influencing international medical travel decisions.

K Culture Creates New Opportunities for Healthcare Tourism

The global popularity of Korean culture is also influencing medical tourism choices. The survey found that 62.9% of respondents believed Korean culture affected their decision to consider Korean medical services.

The connection between cultural interest and healthcare travel shows how entertainment, lifestyle trends and destination branding can support tourism growth.

Medical departments receiving the highest interest included:

• Dermatology – 59.6%
• Korean traditional medicine – 57.3%

The popularity of Korean beauty trends and cultural experiences is creating opportunities for visitors who combine aesthetic treatments, wellness programmes and tourism activities during their stay.

Digital Platforms Become the Main Source of Medical Tourism Information

Online platforms have become the leading way for international consumers to research Korean healthcare services.

The survey showed:

• Online information sources – 86.3%
• Offline sources – 55.3%

Outside China, the most commonly used platforms were:

• YouTube – 56.9%
• Google – 46.7%

In China, local digital platforms played a stronger role:

• Douyin – 50.4%
• Xiaohongshu – 37.8%

The findings highlight the importance of market-specific digital strategies for attracting international medical travellers.

South Korea Targets More Global Medical Tourism Growth

While interest in South Korean healthcare is increasing, differences remain between consumer interest and actual patient arrivals in certain markets. Countries including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, the UAE, the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan showed strong interest but require stronger local networks to convert demand into actual visits.

Expanding partnerships, improving international communication and providing customised information for different markets will be important for future growth.

Indonesia is now one of the countries following Saudi Arabia and others in a growing trend towards South Korea medical tourism, due to an increase in global confidence in sophisticated healthcare, cutting edge medical technology and general patient satisfaction.

The rise of South Korea medical tourism represents a growing convergence of healthcare and technology, culture and travel. With rising interest from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and beyond, South Korea is becoming a major crossroads for medical services and tourism.