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4 in 10 Foreign Patients Attribute Medical Travel to South Korea’s Cultural Appeal: Poll


Seoul: Four out of 10 foreigners visiting South Korea for medical treatment said the country’s culture influenced their decision to come here, a survey showed Sunday. More than 41 percent of those surveyed answered positively when asked if the cultural experience in South Korea influenced their decision to receive medical service in the country.



According to Yonhap News Agency, the survey conducted by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute involved 1,500 foreign individuals who received medical treatment at local hospitals in 2023. The comparative figure for cultural influence stood at 24.3 percent in 2021, soaring to 49.7 percent the following year as the COVID-19 pandemic came to an end and the number of foreign patients began to recover.



By region, a substantial 70 percent of foreign patients hailing from Southeast Asia and the Middle East acknowledged the impact of South Korean culture on their decision to seek medical treatment in the country. In contrast, only about 20 percent of Russian patients reported being influenced by cultural factors.

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