Interactive tool

Clinic Evaluation Checklist

Score a clinic before you book. Each item is weighted by safety significance — critical items must be met before any score is meaningful.

Clinic score

0 / 100

Complete the checklist below

0 of 4 critical items met

Accreditation & registration

Facility is KOIHA-accredited +10 pts

KOIHA (Korea International Healthcare Association) accreditation requires patient safety, quality management, and international patient standards. Verify on koiha.or.kr.

Facility is a licensed medical institution Critical +15 pts

Must be registered with the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare as a clinic (의원) or hospital (병원). Not a wellness centre or spa.

Clinic is listed in the KHIDI international medical tourism facilitator registry +5 pts

If you are using a facilitator/agency, they must be registered with KHIDI. Search at khidi.or.kr. Approximately 280 registered facilitators as of 2024.

Surgeon credentials

Surgeon is KSPRS-certified (Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons) Critical +20 pts

KSPRS requires a 5-year specialty residency and a board certification exam. Approximately 2,100 certified surgeons. Verify on ksprs.or.kr.

Surgeon confirmed to perform the entire procedure personally Critical +15 pts

Ghost surgery — substitution without patient consent — is illegal in Korea since 2016 but still occurs. Get written confirmation that the named surgeon will not be substituted.

Surgeon has provided before/after photos relevant to your anatomy +5 pts

Ask for 10+ unedited cases with similar starting anatomy, not a curated marketing portfolio.

Surgeon has provided a clear explanation of the recommended technique +5 pts

The surgeon should be able to name the technique, explain why it suits your anatomy, and name alternatives they considered.

Facility safety

Operating theatre has CCTV (mandatory under Korean law since 25 September 2021) Critical +10 pts

CCTV in the OR is legally required. The facility must be able to confirm this. Inability or refusal to confirm is a red flag.

Anaesthesia administered by an independent board-certified anaesthesiologist +10 pts

An independent anaesthesiologist — not the operating surgeon — monitoring throughout the procedure is safer. A recurring pattern in Korean procedure-related deaths (NFS study 2016–2024) involved concurrent monitoring failure.

Clinic has clear emergency escalation protocol +5 pts

Ask: 'What happens if I have a serious complication during surgery?' The answer should include a named hospital with an established relationship, not just 'we call 119'.

Post-operative monitoring is available for an appropriate period after surgery +5 pts

Recovery room monitoring for at least 1–2 hours post-op is standard. Longer procedures warrant longer monitoring.

Communication

Professional interpreter provided for all clinical appointments +5 pts

A professional medical interpreter (not a marketing coordinator using a translation app) should be present for consent, pre-op, and post-op appointments.

Written post-operative instructions provided in your language +5 pts

Verbal post-op instructions forgotten during travel are dangerous. Insist on a written protocol.

After-hours emergency contact number provided and tested +5 pts

A general office number that goes to voicemail after 5 PM is not adequate for a surgical patient.

Costs & contracts

All-in price confirmed in writing in KRW with itemised inclusions and exclusions +5 pts

Verbal quotes are not contracts. A written quote in Korean Won with explicit line items (surgery fee, anaesthesia, post-op, medication, compression garment) prevents billing disputes.

Cancellation and rescheduling policy is documented and understood +5 pts

Deposits (typically ₩500K–₩2M) are commonly non-refundable. Know the exact conditions before paying.

Revision policy is documented (timeframe, cost, surgeon) +5 pts

For procedures with non-trivial revision rates (rhinoplasty, jaw reduction), know whether revisions within the first year are free, reduced cost, or full-price before surgery.

Red flags — automatic disqualifiers

If any of the following apply, reconsider the booking regardless of your score.

Clinic has offered unsolicited discounts based on urgency ('book today to get this price')

Urgency pricing tactics in elective surgery are a high-pressure sales technique. Reputable clinics do not need to pressure-sell surgical procedures.

Clinic has made specific result promises or guarantees

No surgeon can guarantee a specific outcome. Any promise of a precise result (e.g. 'you will look like this') is both misleading and a warning sign about the clinic's culture.

The operating surgeon's name is not confirmed until the day of surgery

Ghost surgery risk indicator. The surgeon's name should be on all pre-operative documentation before you sign consent.

Clinic discourages you from seeking a second consultation elsewhere

Any clinic that actively discourages second opinions is protecting a sales relationship, not your interests. Reputable clinics welcome informed patients.

Clinic is recommended only through a commission-based referral agent who receives payment per referral

Commission-based referral structures create incentives misaligned with patient interests. KHIDI-registered facilitators must disclose their fee structure.

Methodology

Checklist criteria are derived from Korean healthcare law (CCTV statute, effective 25 September 2021), KSPRS certification requirements, KOIHA accreditation standards, and the NFS autopsy study of 50 procedure-related deaths (2016–2024). Item weights reflect the relative significance of each criterion in predicting patient safety outcomes.

Education, not medical advice Fact-checked per our Editorial Standards · corrections policy applies · always confirm specifics with a board-certified surgeon Last verified
2026-07-28

Where to go next

Go deeper Safety hub

The full framework behind each checklist item — what Korean law requires and what to verify.

Compare Consultation question builder

The questions to ask during your consultation to verify these items.

Next in your journey Planning your trip

When to complete this checklist and how it fits into the booking decision process.