Foreign Patient Attraction Business Registration in Korea

What is foreign patient attraction registration?

'Attracting foreign patients' means providing conveniences related to treatment — making appointments and contracts (including acting as agent), giving treatment information and guiding transport and lodging — to promote foreign patients' use of Korean medical institutions. A 'foreign patient' is a foreigner who is not an insured person or dependant under the National Health Insurance Act; persons with foreigner registration (except those with G-1 status) and overseas Koreans with domestic residence reports are excluded. A medical institution that wants to attract such patients must register with the city/province head, and others must also register after meeting the requirements. Attracting patients without registration is punishable.

What are the requirements?

(1) Medical institutions: at least one specialist per medical department for which patients are attracted, and enrolment in medical malpractice liability insurance or a medical liability mutual aid association. The annual compensation limit is at least KRW 100 million for clinics and hospitals and KRW 200 million for general hospitals.

(2) Agencies (non-medical institutions): guarantee insurance, capital of at least a set amount, and a domestic office. The insurance must cover liability for damage caused to foreign patients, with an insured amount of at least KRW 100 million, and capital must be KRW 100 million or more (paid-in capital for corporations; business asset valuation otherwise).

(3) Disqualification: persons less than 2 years past a prison sentence for violating this Act, or less than 1 year past a fine finalized under this Act, cannot register, and the same applies to a corporation whose representative falls under these grounds.

Which documents are needed?

An agency submits the registration application (electronic allowed) to the city/province head, with (1) proof of guarantee insurance, (2) proof of capital, (3) proof of ownership or use rights over the office, (4) the articles of incorporation (corporations only) and (5) the business operation plan in the form set by the Minister of Health and Welfare.

A medical institution submits a list of specialists by department and proof of malpractice insurance or mutual aid enrolment; the institution's opening report/permit and specialist certificates are checked by the officer through shared administrative information.

What is the procedure?

(1) Check qualifications (guarantee insurance, capital and office; or specialists and malpractice insurance) → (2) submit the application and documents to the city/province head → (3) the registration certificate is issued and the registration details are posted on the city/province website. You then operate within the 3-year validity, and renew before expiry to continue.

How long does it take?

This review did not confirm a statutory processing period, so no number of days is given. Registration is valid for 3 years, and renewal is applied for within 2 months before expiry. Ask the city/province office for its processing time.

Which authority receives the registration?

The Mayor of a special/metropolitan/special self-governing city or the Governor of a province/special self-governing province (city/province head).

What is the statutory fee?

No provision setting a registration fee was confirmed in this review of the Act and its Decree and Rule, so no amount is given. Separately, demanding commissions above the rate announced by the Minister is prohibited. Private service fees are not statutory fees and are excluded; confirm any fee with the city/province office.

Why is a registration rejected or cancelled?

Reasons confirmed in the law: requirements not met (specialists/insurance, or guarantee insurance/capital/office), a disqualification ground, or missing documents. After registration, lending the certificate, attracting persons who are not foreign patients, an agency referring contracts to non-registered institutions, and not starting within 2 years or suspending for 2 years or more are grounds for cancellation; after cancellation you cannot re-apply for 1 year.

What can an administrative attorney help with?

YouSun Administrative Attorney prepares and submits application or report documents on your authorization. Work restricted by other laws cannot be handled, and litigation or court representation is lawyer work and is not offered. Approval, registration or acceptance, and the outcome, are decided by the competent authority.