Helpful organization
Check list
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Filing a complaint
- If the hospital, clinic, or doctor fails to resolve the concern or complaint of the patient, the patient can file a complaint.
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Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency
provides counseling for medical accidents, investigation of the case requested for mediation by the applicant - such as investigation of facts and identification of causality, malpractice and late impairment - and calculation of compensation for damages to carry out arbitration and negotiation between the parties. Patients may receive counseling for problems they are faced with and request arbitration.
+82-2-1670-2545 Detailed Information -
Korea Consumer Agency
A specialized organization established by the government to protect consumer rights and interests, promote consumption life, and contribute to the development of the national economy. Requests for relief from health and medical damage are received.
+82-1372 Detailed Information -
Korean Health Industry Development Institute Medical Call
(counseling available in six languages) receives general inquiries related to the use of Korean medical institutions of foreign patients and provides guidance for the protection of the interests and rights of foreign patients.
+82-1577-7129 Detailed Information
- Translation/Foreigner Call Centert
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Detailed Information
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Agency overview
Provides all information that foreigners living in Korea need regarding online civil services for foreigners, immigration, employment, investment guide and civil affair documents
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Languages Supported
English, Chinese, Japanese
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Call Center Phone Number
+82-1345-6908
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Agency overview
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Detailed Information
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Agency overview
Reports illegal brokers for medical tours and any medical disputes, guides on solutions and required procedures
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Languages Supported
English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Arabic
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Call Center Phone Number
+82-1577-7129
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Agency overview
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Detailed Information
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Agency overview
To Deal with any inconvenience or difficulty during travel, such as obtaining tourist information, overcharged fare or mediation of problems. Operation hours are 9am-8pm (Mon to Sun) and closed on Lunar New Year’s holiday and Korean Thanksgiving holiday. They offer cash compensation services for foreign tourists who have experienced overcharged fare in Seoul.
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Languages Supported
English, Chinese, Japanese
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Call Center Phone Number
+82-1800-9008
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Agency overview
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Detailed Information
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Agency overview
Guides on solutions and necessary measures to prevent medical disputes
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Languages Supported
English, Chinese
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Call Center Phone Number
+82-2-1670-2545, +82-2-6210-0080
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Agency overview
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Detailed Information
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Agency overview
Provides free medical consultation and translation services for foreigners, 24 hours/day and 365 days/year
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Languages Supported
English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Mongolian
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Call Center Phone Number
119
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Agency overview
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Detailed Information
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Agency overview
Help line for foreign travelers visiting Korea, operated by Korea Tourism Organization
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Languages Supported
English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, etc.
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Call Center Phone Number
1330
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Agency overview
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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery and Procedure Patient Checklist
- What you must know when receiving cosmetic plastic surgery
- 「Identification of the current status of cosmetic plastic surgery and development of a user booklet」
- National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency research (See 2013.12.31 for reference)
- About the doctors
- About the cost
- About the surgery
- About conditions after the surgery
- About the surgical records
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- Is the surgeon qualified? Is he/she a specialist in plastic surgery?
- How much training and experience does the doctor have related to this surgery?
- How often does the doctor perform this surgery?
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- How much does it cost to consult with a doctor?
- What is the total cost of the surgery including drugs and/or treatment aids needed after the surgery?
- If possible complications may occur, does the patient have to pay for the treatment? What is the cost for this treatment?
- If the patient decides to discontinue the surgery for any reason, does the patient still need to pay for the entire surgery?
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- Is the surgery right for me?
- Is there another way, besides surgery, to obtain the results that I want?
- How long does the surgery take?
- Does the surgery cause pain? If so, what type of anesthesia method and anesthetic are used?
- Is some or all of the surgical equipment and instruments sterilized and used only for my surgery?
- What are the risks of the surgery?
- What are the complication occurrence rates and the surgeon's surgery success rates of this clinic(hospital)?
- Can I see before and after pictures of the surgery?
- Does the clinic(hospital) provide before and after pictures for patients?
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- What type of treatment will I need after the surgery?
- Will I need to take painkillers after the surgery?
- Does swelling or bruising occur after surgery? If so, is it treatable?
- How long will it take for me to return to day-to-day activities after the surgery?
- When can I have a normal social life?
- When, or at which stage, can I judge the results of the surgery?
- How long will the surgery results last for, if not permanent?
- If I need to consult the surgeon, can I meet him/her even months after the surgery?
- What can I do if I am not satisfied with the surgery results?
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- Is any information about my surgery recorded? If so, how is it recorded?
- Will my surgical records or photos be shown to anyone else?
- Will my approval be sought before any of my records, including photos, are shown to someone else?
- Can I keep a copy of my surgical records?
- How long does the clinic(hospital) store surgical records after the surgery?
- Where can I find my surgical records if the clinic(hospital) which performed the surgery closes?
- When the cosmetic plastic surgery or procedure results are not satisfactory
- Cosmetic plastic surgery or procedure, as with all other surgeries or procedures, may not go well or fall short of expectations at times. Depending on the patient's physical characteristics, unexpected reactions may occur. Predicting of such cases is difficult.
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- The patient needs to make sure that he/she maintains realistic expectations about the results that can be obtained from the cosmetic plastic surgery or procedure he/she decided to have.
- The patient needs to clearly inform the doctor what he/she is expecting from the surgery. The patient needs to understand the doctor's advice regarding the surgical process.
- The patient needs to understand and follow the treatment advice he/she receives before and after the surgery(procedure).
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- If the patient is not satisfied with the results of the cosmetic plastic surgery or procedure or does not think that the surgery or procedure has been executed properly, he/she should inform the doctor about the problem through the medical provider, hospital or clinic. If the healing process has not been finished and more recovery time is needed, the doctor and hospital staff will accommodate such concerns.
- If the patient is unsatisfied with the result even after recovery, the hospital, clinic, or doctor may suggest an additional surgery(procedure) for correction.
Cosmetic Surgery Tax Refund
From April 1, foreign patients who receive cosmetic surgery in Korea can receive Tax Refund. Further information is as follows.
- V.A.T Refund Items
- Double Eye-lid, Rhinoplasty, Breast Surgery(reduction/augmentation), Liposuction, Face Lift, Facial bone contouring, Teeth Whitening, Laminate, Gingivoplasty, Orthognathic surgery
- Nevus pigmentosus, Freckles, Lentigo, Chloasma, Pimple, Hair removal, Hair loss, Hair transplantation, Tattoo, Tattoo removal, Piercing, Lipolysis, Skin regeneration, Skin Whitening, Anti-aging, Pore tightening
- Refund Procedure
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Treatment and Issue of certificate of selling medical service for overseas patients Submit a certificate of seelling medical service for overseas patients at refund point (airport and downtown) V.A.T Refund
- You may submit the “Certificate of selling medical service for overseas patient” issued after treatment to the operator of a refund point by any of the methods shown below.
- Refund at airport(port) of departure
- Airport(port) with refund point in the bonded zone: Submit to refund counter or KIOSK Airport(port) with no refund counter(Muan·Yangyang·Daegu airport and Pyeongtaek·Jeju port, etc.): Put the certificate of selling medical service for overseas patient into mailbox next to customs with Consent to collection, usage and disclosure of personal information
- Downtown refund Total medical expenses less than 5 mil. won:Submit the certificate of selling medical service for overseas patient and Consent to collection, usage and disclosure of personal information. In such case. refund counter operator may request a guarantee
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Refund Amount: 10% of the medical expenses eligible for V.A.T refund after transaction fees are deducted
If the medical institution refuses to refund the V.A.T or you have other questions.
please contact to Medical Korea Information Center(1577-7129) - patients are only eligible to receive a VAT refund if they depart the Republic of Korea within 3 months of the date og the medical procedure.
* source : Medical Korea