Illegal brokers are a documented problem in Korean medical tourism. Brokers can be useful when they are legitimate and registered. When they are not, you can end up paying extra fees, with no clear party to hold responsible. This guide shows how to tell the difference.
What the numbers say
The Korea JoongAng Daily reported in October 2025 that cases involving illegal brokers at the Medical Korea Support Center rose from 13 in 2020 to 67 in 2024, and that unregistered brokers often charge high referral fees. The same report counted 214 dissatisfaction and dispute cases at the center in 2024, up from 22 in 2020.
What the law requires of an agency
Under Article 6 of the Act on Supporting Overseas Expansion of Medical Services and Attraction of International Patients, a business that attracts international patients (other than a medical institution) must register. To do so it must:
- buy guarantee insurance prescribed by the Minister of Health and Welfare,
- hold capital at or above the legal minimum, and
- maintain an office in South Korea.
Registration lasts three years, and the certificate must be displayed. Attracting foreign patients without registering is a criminal offence, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (Article 28).
How to check an agency
- Ask for its legal name and registration details, in English and Korean, plus its address in Korea.
- Check the registration with an official source: Medical Korea or the registering city or provincial office. A registered clinic does not make its agency registered. The two are separate registrations.
- Ask who pays the agency. If the answer is “the clinic”, ask whether this changes the price you pay or the clinic they recommend.
- Compare against the clinic’s own quote. Contact the clinic directly with the same questions.
Warning signs
| Warning sign | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The agent will not give a legal name or office address | You cannot hold an anonymous party responsible. |
| You are asked to pay the agent, not the clinic | Money paid to a broker may not be refundable by the clinic. |
| Only the agent communicates, and you cannot speak to the doctor | You cannot confirm who will treat you. |
| Guaranteed results, “limited slots”, or a deadline for a deposit | Pressure and promises are tactics, not facts. |
| The clinic named is not on the registry for foreign patients | Check on the map and with an official source. |
| Cash only, or no receipt | Without a receipt you have little evidence if there is a dispute. |
If you use an agent anyway
- Get a written contract that names the agency, the clinic, the doctor, the procedure, the total price and who it is paid to.
- Pay the clinic directly where possible, by a traceable method.
- Keep every message and receipt.
- Read what to do if a treatment goes wrong before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Are all brokers illegal?
No. Registered agencies operate legally. The risk is with unregistered ones.
Is a Korean-speaking friend enough instead of an agent?
It can help with language, but it does not check the clinic. Verify the clinic yourself.
Where do I report an illegal broker?
Contact the Medical Korea Support Center or the city or provincial office where the agency operates. Keep evidence of the contract and payments.
General information, not legal advice. See the About page for our sources and corrections policy.