The number of foreign patients visiting Korea for medical treatment has surged by 70% to reach 248,000 in 2021, up from 145,000 the year before, despite the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The highest number of patients were from the US (17.8%), China (17.7%), Japan (8.8%), Thailand (8.2%) and Vietnam (5.9%). Internal medicine, plastic surgery and dermatology attracted the most patients, with integrated internal medicine drawing 22.3% of patients, plastic surgery 15.8%, dermatology 12.3% and physical check-ups 6.6%. The ministry cited increased demand for plastic surgery and dermatology as having driven patient numbers.