Beauty Tourism Heats Up with South Korea the Hot Destination
By Kelli Luu | 29 Jan, 2026

A growing number of international travelers seeking cosmetic and aesthetic care are heading to South Korea.

People are no longer booking their vacations for food or sightseeing, they’re flying for self care. Beauty tourism is the new global trend where entire trips are planned around skin treatments, cosmetic procedures, and aesthetic care and right now South Korea is a top destination. 

In 2024 South Korea saw over 1.1 million international visitors who traveled there specifically to receive medical and aesthetic care. This was the highest number ever recorded and the trend continued on with foreign tourists spending over 1.4 trillion Korean won, or $976.5 million, on procedures in 2025. 

One of the most consistent treatments being booked in South Korea are dermatology treatments as patients are looking for preventative and regenerative care, focusing on long-term skin health. Laser skin treatments and injections designed to strengthen your skin barrier can require multiple sessions, which is why some travelers will dedicate their whole itinerary to revolve around them. 

Scalp and hair treatments have also been drawing visitors as scalp detoxes and follicle-focused care have gone viral on TikTok, highlighting another philosophy embedded in K-beauty, one that says healthy hair starts at the scalp. Beauty tourists are also heading to South Korea for cosmetic procedures as Seoul is widely considered the plastic surgery capital of the world with about 1 in 5 women in the city having undergone surgery. Popular cosmetic procedures among international tourists include double eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty and facial contouring. 

So why South Korea? Beauty tourism has recently been heavily documented and glorified on social media and South Korea’s global influence through K-pop and K-beauty has only been driving Korean skincare and aesthetics to become more mainstream. 

Over the last decade, South Korea has been intentionally forming itself into a global medical tourism hub. There are many clinics that specialize narrowly in fields like dermatology, cosmetic surgery, and aesthetic care which can treat high numbers of patients each day. Not only are you getting treatment from highly experienced professionals, but the costs of procedures are significantly more affordable than in the United States. Double eyelid surgery costs an average of $4,000-$7,000 in the U.S. but in Korea, it costs roughly $1,500-$3,500. 

Choosing South Korea for cosmetic and aesthetic procedures can save patients 30-70%, which is why people are choosing to make that long flight. Beauty is becoming seen as self-investment and routine based and South Korea has positioned itself as a leader in the way the world is approaching self care.