Checking a clinic before you book

How do I check that a doctor is a dermatology specialist in Korea?

The Association of Korean Dermatologists, the national body of dermatology specialists, suggests three checks: the clinic name on the sign, its official “피부과 전문의” (dermatology specialist) certification mark, which you can search on the association’s website, and the specialist certificate displayed inside the clinic. You can also search a doctor’s name on the site to see whether they are a member (how to tell a specialist, checked 2026-10-18). The association’s local search lists member specialists by area (local specialist search, checked 2026-10-18).

The sign check works because the law ties the name to the title: only a clinic founded by a recognised specialist may put the specialty into its name, as in ○○피부과의원. The guide to how clinics work explains the sign rules in full. If the clinic has several doctors, run the check for the one who will treat you.

How do I check KHIDI foreign-patient registration?

A clinic that wants to attract foreign patients must register with the city or provincial government. To register it needs at least one specialist for each specialty it offers to foreign patients and medical malpractice insurance, and the registration lasts three years before it must be renewed (foreign patient Act, Article 6, checked 2026-10-18). Registered clinics must display the certificate where anyone can see it (Article 8, checked 2026-10-18).

1. Open the Registered Hospitals directory on Medical Korea, the portal run by KHIDI and the Korea Tourism Organization (checked 2026-10-18).
2. Filter by type (Clinic) and region (Seoul), then search the clinic’s English name or its phone number.
3. Compare the entry with what the clinic told you. Each entry shows a registration code in the form M-year-…, the address, and the international healthcare centre’s phone number.
4. At the visit, look for the registration certificate on display.

Medical Korea also explains that all registered institutions have had to carry malpractice insurance since 2016 (Registration System, checked 2026-10-18). A separate, stricter layer is accreditation: the Ministry of Health and Welfare evaluates registered institutions and may accredit those with strong results, for four years at a time (Article 14, checked 2026-10-18).

What does registration tell me?

Registration confirms that the clinic is known to the authorities as a provider for foreign patients, carries malpractice insurance, has a specialist in the specialty it offers you, and owes you specific written information. It is a baseline, not a quality ranking. The individual doctor, the device and the plan still need your questions.

Which questions should I ask before paying?

Are online reviews and before-and-after photos reliable?

Treat them as a starting point. A 2026 review of how people choose cosmetic treatment abroad found that they rely heavily on anecdotes from online communities, in a context of inaccurate information^[1]. Korean law lets registered clinics advertise in foreign languages at places such as international airports and duty-free shops, but not with before-and-after comparisons that could mislead foreign patients (foreign patient Act, Article 15, checked 2026-10-18). Use reviews to shortlist, and the checks above to decide.

Where can I get help if something goes wrong?

Start with the clinic: registered clinics must tell foreign patients how disputes are handled if a medical accident occurs (Article 8, checked 2026-10-18). If that fails, the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency offers counselling, mediation and arbitration, with an English section and English application forms (K-medi English site, checked 2026-10-18). Keep your records: in a systematic review of complications after cosmetic surgery abroad, infection was the most common problem patients brought home^[2], and the treating doctor at home will want to know exactly what was done.