Most visitors book a Korean skin clinic before they land, and that is where mistakes happen: unclear prices, a coordinator you cannot verify, or a deposit sent to the wrong place. This guide covers the ways to book from abroad, a bilingual message you can copy, and what a good reply looks like.
Before you message
- Check the clinic first. Use the clinic map and read how to check if it is registered for foreign patients.
- Know your dates. Write down the days you are in Korea and your flight home. Do not book anything with swelling or downtime for the day before you fly.
- Prepare your concern in one line. The visit card builder turns it into a bilingual card you can also send as a screenshot.
- Take clear photos of the area in daylight, and list allergies, medicines and past treatments.
Ways to book from abroad
| Way | Good for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Clinic website form or email | A written record of what was promised | Whether they reply in English, and whether the reply includes an itemised estimate |
| A messaging app listed on the clinic’s own site | Quick questions and photos | Use only the channel shown on the clinic’s official website. The apps vary by clinic, and some require a Korean phone number, so ask for an email alternative |
| Phone or walk-in | Short stays, simple consultations | Whether an English-speaking staff member is available that day. Ask first if walk-ins are accepted |
| A booking platform or coordinator | Help with language and scheduling | How they are paid, whether the clinic or you pay them, and whether prices on their page match the clinic’s estimate. Read our guide to illegal medical brokers |
Whatever you choose, keep the conversation in writing so you have something to refer to later.
A message you can copy
Send the English line, and add the Korean line under it. Replace the words in brackets.
| English | 한국어 |
|---|---|
| Hello. I will be in Korea from [date] to [date]. I would like a consultation about [concern]. | 안녕하세요. [날짜]부터 [날짜]까지 한국에 있습니다. [고민]에 대해 상담받고 싶습니다. |
| Is the clinic registered for foreign patients? | 외국인환자 유치 의료기관으로 등록되어 있나요? |
| Will a doctor perform the treatment? | 의사 선생님이 직접 시술하시나요? |
| Which device or product will be used? | 어떤 기기 또는 제품을 사용하나요? |
| Could you send an itemised estimate before I arrive, including tax, anaesthesia and consultation fees? | 방문 전에 부가세, 마취비, 상담료를 포함한 항목별 견적서를 보내주실 수 있나요? |
| Is there an English-speaking staff member or interpreter? | 영어로 상담 가능한 직원이나 통역이 있나요? |
| Do you accept foreign credit cards? | 해외 신용카드로 결제할 수 있나요? |
| Is a deposit required? What are the cancellation and refund rules? | 예약금이 필요한가요? 취소 및 환불 규정을 알려주세요. |
| I have these allergies and health conditions: [list]. | 알레르기와 건강 상태는 다음과 같습니다: [내용]. |
| If there is a problem after treatment, can I see a doctor again, and how do I contact you? | 시술 후 문제가 생기면 다시 진료받을 수 있나요? 어떻게 연락하나요? |
What a good reply looks like
- It answers your questions, rather than repeating a promotion.
- It names the device or product and says who performs the treatment.
- It gives an itemised estimate in writing, with what is and is not included.
- It states the cancellation terms and any deposit.
- It gives the clinic’s address in Korean as well as English, so you can show it to a taxi driver.
Red flags
- No price or estimate at all, only “come and see”.
- A price that is very different from the estimate you receive later.
- Pressure to pay a deposit immediately or to pay into a personal bank account.
- A refusal to name the device or product.
- A coordinator who cannot say which clinic you will visit, or who is paid by commission and will not say so.
- Promises of results or guarantees.
After you book
- Save the confirmation with the date, time, clinic address, doctor and estimate.
- Ask when to arrive and what to bring, such as your passport.
- Check how to reach the clinic after hours, and who to contact if something changes after treatment.
- If you need interpretation help, the Korea Travel Hotline (1330) offers interpretation in English, Japanese and Chinese 24 hours a day. It is a tourism line, not a medical advice line.
Useful Korean words
| Korean | Romanised | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 예약 | yeyak | Reservation |
| 예약금 | yeyakgeum | Deposit |
| 취소 | chwiso | Cancellation |
| 환불 | hwanbul | Refund |
| 견적서 | gyeonjeokseo | Estimate |
| 상담 | sangdam | Consultation |
| 통역 | tongyeok | Interpretation |
| 주소 | juso | Address |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Korean phone number?
Some Korean booking apps and messaging channels ask for one. Clinics that welcome foreign patients usually also take email or a website form, so ask for that instead.
Can I just walk in?
Some clinics accept walk-ins, but many treatments need a consultation first. Ask in advance, especially for a short trip.
Should I pay a deposit?
Ask for the refund terms in writing first, and pay by a traceable method to the clinic’s own business account. Be cautious about paying an individual.
General information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Clinic procedures change; confirm with the clinic. See the About page for our sources and corrections policy. Read what to bring and ask at your first appointment and how to read a Korean clinic estimate.