As the number one destination for cosmetic surgery, more foreigners are travelling to Korea to improve their looks. Even though Korea has a good record in successful cosmetic surgery procedures, there have been cases of unprofessionalism and fraud. Now the Korean government is stepped up its efforts to better regulate one of its most popular industries.
In total, 266,000 people visited Korea for medical purpose in 2014 and a majority of these are believed to have undergone some form of cosmetic surgery. 30% of these visitors were Chinese followed by medical tourists from American, Russian and japan. Vietnam and Philippines make up the largest number of medical tourists to Korea from south East Asia.
According to Ministry of Health, plastic surgery in Korea is a multi million dollar industry and generates revenues of up to USD 670 million every year. To protect and ensure integrity of plastic surgery in Korea, the government has begun clamping down on unaccredited clinics and illegal medical brokers.
Currently, there is a steady increase in disputes and failed operations between foreign nationals and Korean cosmetic clinics. According to the Chinese Association of Plastic and Aesthetics, the number of Chinese nationals that have filed complains has risen to 15%. The association further says that majority of complains emanate from illegal brokers and inexperienced medical practitioners doing plastic surgery.
Many illegal brokers convince foreigners to undergo their cosmetic procedures in a certain clinic where they are charge exorbitantly only to realize later that they were charged ten times more than the normal cost. The brokers who referred them usually pocket huge commissions.
To combat this, the health ministry has introduced a platform to report illegal brokers. The website Medicalkorea.or.kr will help medical tourists in Korea avoid using illegal brokers as it will have detailed and updated information on the plastic surgery procedures available in Korea with their estimated prices to prevent them being overcharged.
To minimize botched cosmetic procedures, the ministry has issued guidelines that allow only certified and registered plastic surgeons to operate on foreigners. The Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons, which represents around 2,200 plastic surgeons have welcomed this move.
Dr. Park Sang Hyeon from the association says that they have faced stiff competition from general practitioners who are legally allowed perform plastic surgery in Korea but will now not be allowed to perform cosmetic procedures on foreigners.
Sand Hyeon believes the guidelines given will also reduce botched procedures as between 70-80% of plastic surgery accidents were cause by general practitioners.
The association has also started a website, prskorea.co.kr available in Korean, English and Chinese contains a list of all its certified members to help foreigners seeking plastic surgery in Korea can check qualifications and accreditation of plastic surgeons.
In addition, the association is on the verge of installing cameras in theater rooms to prevent clinics from leaving cosmetic procedures entirely in the hands of interns and inexperienced practitioners. In the event of disputes with any Korean cosmetic clinics, foreigners are advised to seek assistance from state agencies like the Korean Medical Dispute and Arbitration Agency.