What KHIDI Does
KHIDI — 한국보건산업진흥원 (hanguk bogensaneumjeop jinheungwon, Korea Health Industry Development Institute) — is a Korean government agency operating under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Its mandate covers promotion and development of Korea’s broader health industry: pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and medical tourism. For international patients, KHIDI’s most relevant functions are two: it maintains the official registry of licensed medical tourism facilitators,¹ and it publishes annual statistics tracking foreign patient arrivals, source countries, and procedure categories.² KHIDI is a promotion and coordination body — it does not license individual clinics or certify surgeons.
The Facilitator Registry
A medical tourism facilitator is an agency or coordinator that assists international patients with clinic selection, translation, logistics, and aftercare arrangements. KHIDI maintains the official registry of licensed facilitators operating in Korea.¹ To obtain registration, a facilitator must meet requirements covering financial solvency, liability insurance, and patient safety standards.² Registered facilitators are assigned a number in the format KM-[year]-[sequence] (for example, KM-2023-0142).³
Two protections come with using a registered facilitator. First, KHIDI-registered facilitators are prohibited from receiving undisclosed financial incentives — kickbacks — from clinics; all financial relationships with medical providers must be disclosed to patients.⁵ Second, if a dispute arises, the facilitator’s registration can be investigated and revoked. One limit applies: KHIDI registration of a facilitator does not constitute KHIDI’s endorsement of any specific clinic or provider that facilitator recommends.⁶ Patients can verify a facilitator’s current registration status by searching the KHIDI medical tourism portal at khidi.or.kr/medicalkorea.⁷
KHIDI Medical Tourism Statistics
KHIDI’s annual Medical Tourism Statistical Survey is one of the most comprehensive primary sources for understanding Korea’s international patient volumes. The 2024 report recorded 1,170,467 foreign patients receiving medical treatment in Korea — a 93.2% year-over-year increase from 605,768 patients in 2023.¹ ² Patients arrived from 202 countries, and the United States ranked as the fourth-largest source country.³ ⁴
Plastic surgery and dermatology collectively account for the largest share of procedures sought by international patients, making aesthetic medicine the dominant category within Korea’s medical tourism economy.⁶ Geographically, Gangnam-gu receives approximately 60% of medical tourists seeking aesthetic procedures.⁷ These statistics are published annually and provide country-of-origin breakdowns, procedure mix data, and patient satisfaction findings useful for anyone conducting evidence-based research before travelling.
How Patients Can Use KHIDI
Three practical actions are available to international patients through KHIDI. First, verify any facilitator you are considering against the KHIDI facilitator registry at khidi.or.kr/medicalkorea before sharing personal or financial information.¹ Second, check that the facilitator’s registration number follows the KM-[year]-[sequence] format and that their status is current.² Third, use KHIDI’s published annual statistics as a baseline when evaluating claims made by clinics or facilitators about procedure volumes, outcomes, or Korea’s position in medical tourism — the data is publicly available and provides an independent benchmark.³ KHIDI does not operate a patient helpline or dispute resolution service; those functions sit with separate agencies.
Related Terms
KSPRS — Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons; the specialty board that certifies plastic surgeons. K-MEDI — Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency; the body that handles patient complaints and dispute resolution. Ghost surgery (대리수술, daeri susul) — an illegal practice in which a surgeon other than the one consented to performs the procedure; a key patient safety risk in Korean cosmetic surgery.
Does KHIDI regulate Korean plastic surgery clinics?
KHIDI is a promotion and coordination agency, not a regulatory body. Clinic licensing falls under the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local health bureaus. Surgeon certification is managed by specialty societies like KSPRS. KHIDI's oversight role is limited to registered medical tourism facilitators — agencies and coordinators, not clinics directly.
What is a KHIDI-registered facilitator and should I use one?
A KHIDI-registered medical tourism facilitator is an agency licensed by KHIDI to assist international patients. Registration requires meeting criteria on service standards, insurance, and patient support. Using a registered facilitator provides recourse if disputes arise — facilitators can be reported to KHIDI and risk losing their license. It is not mandatory, but adds a layer of accountability.
Where can I find the KHIDI facilitator registry?
The KHIDI facilitator registry is publicly accessible at visitmedicalkorea.com (KHIDI's medical tourism portal). You can search by agency name or specialization. The registry includes contact details and registration status. Cross-reference any facilitator you are considering against this registry before sharing personal or financial information.