Korean law (Article 27-3 of the Medical Act) requires anyone who connects foreign patients to clinics for money to register with the government. Most brokers tourists meet have not.
What Korean law requires
Article 27-3 of the Korean Medical Act makes it illegal for unregistered third parties to connect foreign patients with Korean clinics for a fee. Legitimate medical-tourism agents ("facilitators") must register with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and pass audits on commission disclosure, patient safety, and complaint handling. The registered agency list is public and searchable on the KOIHA website (Korea International Health Care Association). As of 2025, about 1,800 agencies are registered. The estimated number of unregistered brokers is at least three to five times that.
Why unlicensed brokers dominate
Registered agents charge a flat consulting fee and disclose how they are paid. Unregistered brokers charge nothing up front and take a 10 to 25 percent commission from the clinic after you book. Patients gravitate toward "free" agents, clinics compete by paying higher commissions, and the system pulls toward brokers working outside the law. Enforcement in 2024 to 2025 has been spotty — some brokers get prosecuted, most operate openly.
How to spot an unlicensed broker
Warning signs: the broker will not show a Ministry of Health registration number or KOIHA membership. They insist on attending every consultation and answering questions on your behalf. They only ever recommend one clinic. They quote you a price directly instead of letting the clinic quote it. You found them on Instagram, KakaoTalk, or a non-Korean website rather than through a registered Korean business with a tax ID. Three or more of these together is a strong signal that the broker is unlicensed.
What this costs you
Unregistered brokers are paid by the clinic, and that commission ends up in your bill. The price a tourist gets through an unregistered broker is typically 15 to 30 percent above what a Korean patient pays at the same clinic. There is also no legal protection — if something goes wrong, the clinic blames the broker, the broker carries no insurance, and you have no one to hold accountable.
The legal alternative
KOIHA-registered facilitators charge a flat consultation fee (typically $100 to $300), shortlist clinics transparently, take no kickbacks, and advocate for the patient rather than the clinic. The 2025 directory lists about 200 registered agencies focused on Seoul medical tourism, with specialties in plastic surgery, dermatology, dental, and more. Most patients end up with unregistered brokers because of marketing reach — not because legal options are scarce.
Key takeaways
- Korean law (Article 27-3) requires anyone connecting foreign patients to Korean clinics for money to be registered with the government.
- An estimated 75 percent or more of brokers tourists meet are operating illegally.
- Unlicensed brokers are paid by clinic kickback, which adds 15 to 30 percent to your bill.
- KOIHA-registered alternatives charge a flat fee and take no clinic commission.
Protection tips
- Ask any agent for their Ministry of Health registration number and KOIHA membership before any booking talk.
- Cross-check that registration on the public KOIHA directory.
- Choose agents who charge a flat consultation fee over "free" commission-based ones.
- For direct booking, this site's clinic finder skips the broker layer entirely.
Want help navigating this?
Our coordinators are registered medical tourism facilitators accredited under the Korea Ministry of Health — not the unlicensed brokers this article warns about. We match you to 2–3 vetted Seoul clinics at real local prices — free, within one business day.
Start a free consultation →Researched by our team through practitioner interviews, on-the-ground market intel, official sources (MFDS enforcement records, KOIHA registered-facilitator data, Korean Society of Dermatologic Surgery), and Korean-language investigative reporting (Chosun Biz, KBS, Hankyoreh). Paraphrased — not medical or legal advice.