How to verify English-speaking plastic surgery clinics in Gangnam before booking treatment?

Plastic surgery accounted for 11.2% of foreign patients in Korea in 2025. Seoul treated 87.2% of all foreign patients, and clinic-level facilities handled 87.7% [3]. Many clinics compete for the same patients, so the following checks matter more than advertising or brand names.

• Registration: Medical Korea (KHIDI) lists institutions and facilitators registered to serve international patients [2]. Registration with the metropolitan or provincial government is required by Article 6 of the Act on Support for Overseas Expansion of Medical Services and Attraction of International Patients. Recruiting foreign patients without it can lead to up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 30 million [5].
• District listing: Gangnam-gu runs the Gangnam Medical Tour Center website, which lists partner medical institutions [6]. Such a listing is administrative. It is not a quality rating.
• Language in practice: ask who will speak English during the examination, the consent discussion and follow-up. Also ask whether consent documents are available in English.
• Surgeon credentials: ask for the surgeon's name. Check specialist status through the Korean Medical Association or the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.
• Legal entity: the clinic's legal name and address should match public institution records [7]. One brand may operate several legal entities.
• Products: for implants, fillers or cell-based offers, ask for the product name and its approval status with MFDS [1].
• Liability and follow-up: registered institutions have had to carry malpractice liability insurance since 2016 [4]. Also ask for the written revision and refund policy and the plan for care after you return home.