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Registered medical-tourism clinics in Korea (KHIDI) explained

What is a registered medical-tourism clinic in Korea?

It is a medical institution that has registered under Korea's foreign patient law to attract and treat international patients. Under Article 6 of the Act on Support for Overseas Expansion of Healthcare System and Attraction of International Patients, clinics and agencies that want to recruit foreign patients must register with the city or provincial governor. Registered institutions report their foreign patient results to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), the government agency that runs the Medical Korea programme.

Registration is a legal licence to recruit foreign patients, not a quality ranking. Rules on this page were checked on official Korean government sources on 1 November 2026.

What does a clinic need to register?

For an eye patient, the practical meaning is that a registered clinic must have an ophthalmology specialist and malpractice cover in place. Always ask who your surgeon is and check their specialist status.

What are the penalties for unregistered recruiting?

Article 28 of the Act says anyone who attracts foreign patients without registering faces up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to ₩30 million. Registration can also be cancelled. In 2019 the Ministry of Health and Welfare moved to cancel the registrations of 49 medical institutions and 220 recruiting businesses that had not reported their foreign patient results to KHIDI despite corrective orders.

Are there rules on agency commissions?

Yes. A Ministry of Health and Welfare notice that took effect on 15 February 2017 caps the commission an institution may pay a recruiter, as a share of the patient's medical fees:

• Clinics (uiwon): 30%
• Hospitals and general hospitals: 20%
• Tertiary hospitals: 15%

Exceeding the cap can lead to cancelled registration or a surcharge. If an agency quote is much higher than the clinic's own quote, ask why. We did not find a later change to these caps as of 1 November 2026.

What does registration not tell me?

Registration confirms that a clinic meets the legal conditions to recruit foreign patients. It does not tell you how experienced a particular surgeon is, which lasers or lenses the clinic uses, or how its results compare with others. Use it as a first filter, then check:

• The name and specialist status of the surgeon who will operate
• How many procedures of your type the clinic performs
• The devices used, for example VisuMax 800 for SMILE Pro, or EVO ICL lenses
• Who examines you and who answers questions after you go home
• Whether consent and aftercare are explained in your language

See questions to ask your LASIK surgeon and medical interpreters in Seoul.

What is KAHF accreditation?

KAHF, the Korea Accreditation Program for Hospitals Serving Foreign Patients, is a separate, voluntary government accreditation. It is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and run jointly by KHIDI and the Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation. Assessment covers areas such as medical coordinators who explain services in a language patients understand, dispute prevention, infection control and emergency response. Few institutions hold it, so its absence does not mean a clinic is unsafe.

How do I check a clinic or agency?

1. Ask the clinic for its foreign patient attraction registration certificate and its legal name in Korean
2. If using an agency, ask for its own registration separately; a clinic's registration does not cover the agency
3. Check public registration lists published by city and provincial governments; some are on Korea's open data portal, data.go.kr
4. Call the Medical Korea call center on 1577-7129 (+82-1577-7129 from abroad) to ask
5. Be wary of agents or social media accounts that cannot give a registered business name

Also see private clinic vs university hospital in Korea and questions to ask your LASIK surgeon.

Does registration matter for my visa?

It can. If you need a C-3-3 medical visa, Medical Korea lists the inviting institution's foreign-patient registration among the documents, and says only agencies registered with KHIDI and permitted by the Ministry of Justice can apply on a patient's behalf. Most visa-free visitors do not need a medical visa for a LASIK trip; see K-ETA and medical visa for Korea.

Where can I complain if something goes wrong?

KHIDI's Medical Korea Information Center handles complaints and medical accidents involving foreign patients and registers medical disputes, advising in six languages. See medical interpreters in Seoul and FAQs for global patients. Browse clinic profiles in eye clinics in Korea. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

• Incheon Metropolitan City – Foreign patient attraction laws (Act, Articles 6 and 28)
• Medical Korea (KHIDI) – Medical tour visa and agency rules
• KHIDI – Medical Korea Information Center
• Seoul Shinmun – Foreign patient recruitment commission capped (Feb 2017)
• Dailypharm – Registrations cancelled for unreported foreign patient results (2019)
• Korea Times – Prioritising foreign patient safety via KAHF

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does KHIDI registration mean?

It usually refers to registration under Korea's foreign patient law, which clinics and agencies need to recruit foreign patients. Registration is with the city or provincial governor, and results are reported to KHIDI.

How do I know if a Korean clinic is registered for foreign patients?

Ask the clinic for its registration certificate, check published city or provincial lists, or call the Medical Korea call center on 1577-7129.

Is KAHF the same as registration?

No. Registration is a legal requirement for recruiting foreign patients; KAHF is a separate, voluntary accreditation held by relatively few institutions.

Are medical tourism agencies in Korea regulated?

Yes. Agencies must register, hold guarantee insurance and have a Korean office, and commissions paid by clinics are capped at 15–30% depending on the type of institution.

Does a registered clinic guarantee good results?

No. Registration shows legal compliance, not surgical quality. Check the surgeon's experience and get a full exam before deciding.

Planning vision correction in Seoul?

Compare clinics by district, check 2026 price ranges, and read our step-by-step planning guide for international patients.