Seoul to select accommodations for foreign patients
Authorities in Seoul, South Korea, will begin selecting hotels and other accommodation facilities suitable for the recovery and long-term stays of foreign patients. The Seoul Medical-Friendly Accommodation program is intended to help patients and their family members find housing before, during and after treatment, Korea Herald reports.
Requirements for accommodation facilities
Registered accommodation facilities located in Seoul may apply for the status. City authorities will assess their proximity to medical institutions, the availability of wheelchair-accessible routes, 24-hour emergency response systems and long-term stay services, including laundry facilities.
The number of facilities granted the status will be determined after inspections of the sites. The status will be valid for one year and will not grant facilities the right to provide medical services. Applications will be accepted from Monday through September 30.
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Growth in medical tourism
The initiative is being introduced amid growing demand among foreigners for medical services in South Korea. In 2025, a record 2.01 million foreign patients received medical care in the country, 71.9% more than a year earlier. Of them, 1.76 million were treated in Seoul, up 75.6% from the previous year, when 1 million patients were treated in the city.
According to Korea Herald, foreign spending on medical services in South Korea reached 213.1 billion won, or $153 million, in July 2026 alone. The selected facilities will be promoted through the city’s medical tourism platform, available in five languages, and will also be involved in events organized by city authorities.
