In brief
In 2025, Korean medicine accounted for 1.8% of speciality visits by international patients.
37,087 international patients in 2025. Source: Korea Health Industry Development Institute.
Korean medicine (한의학) is a separately licensed medical profession in Korea, with its own doctors, clinics and hospitals. Its treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicine and manual therapies.
What is offered
- Acupuncture and pharmacopuncture
- Herbal medicine
- Cupping and moxibustion
- Chuna manual therapy
How matters are arranged in Korea
- Doctors of Korean medicine (한의사) hold a licence distinct from that of medical doctors (의사). Their clinics are called 한의원, and their hospitals 한방병원.
- If you take medicines regularly, tell the doctor before you take any herbal medicine.
Official fees in Seoul
The non-covered fees that hospitals and clinics in Seoul report to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Ask for a written quotation all the same: it is the fee you will actually be charged.
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Chuna manual therapy, simple추나요법 / 단순추나
₩30,000median
Lowest ₩10,000Highest ₩70,000
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Chuna manual therapy, complex추나요법 / 복잡추나
₩46,670median
Lowest ₩26,000Highest ₩102,240
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Pharmacopuncture약침술 / 경혈
₩30,000median
Lowest ₩1,000Highest ₩300,000
Planning your stay
- Acupuncture is usually given over repeated sessions; ask how many are planned.
The risks, plainly stated
- Interactions between herbal medicine and prescription drugs.
- Bruising or, rarely, infection from acupuncture.
Every procedure carries risk. Only the treating doctor, having examined you, can say whether a treatment is suitable.
Questions to put to the clinic
To take with you
- What are the ingredients of any herbal medicine you prescribe?
- How many sessions do you recommend?
For a few words of Korean at the reception desk, Day1Korean has short conversations to listen to and repeat.
Who ought to treat you
A licensed doctor of Korean medicine (한의사).
Before you book, use our safety checklist to confirm the clinic’s government registration and the doctor’s licence.
Sources
- Korea Health Industry Development Institute — 2025 International Patient Statistics Report (외국인환자 유치실적 통계분석 보고서)
- HIRA Non-covered Medical Fee Information — public data portal
- Medical Service Act (Korean Law Information Center)
- Medical Korea (KHIDI) — registered foreign-patient institutions and support
Last reviewed on 25 October 2026. See our editorial policy.