Two prices on one list

Non-insured fees (비급여, bigeubyeo). Cosmetic-purpose surgery and the treatment of its after-effects are outside Korean national health insurance. This is true for Korean residents as well. That is why prices for cosmetic care differ from clinic to clinic.

Regular price and event price. A regular price is the price a clinic lists as its standard fee. An event price (이벤트가) is a time-limited promotional price, usually lower, offered for a period or to a group of patients. Event prices are common. The price tables in this directory show regular published prices only, with the VAT basis and the check date for each row. They leave events out.

What the law says about posting fees

These rules come from the Medical Service Act (의료법) and its Enforcement Rule:

Easy to know. Clinics must make their non-insured fees easy for patients and guardians to know, in the way the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) sets (Act art. 45(1)).
At the desk. The price list, such as a booklet, must be kept where patients can easily see it, for example at reception. Bundled items may be shown as one package total (Enforcement Rule art. 42-2(1)).
On the website. A clinic that runs a website must also show its non-insured fees and certificate fees there, separately (Enforcement Rule art. 42-2(4)).
No charge above the posted amount. A clinic may not charge more than the non-insured fees and certificate fees it has posted (Act art. 45(3)).
Explained before treatment. For non-insured items that MOHW designates by notice, the clinic must explain the item and its price to the patient in person before treatment. Life-threatening emergencies are the exception (Enforcement Rule art. 42-2(2)). We did not confirm which cosmetic items are on that designated list, and the list can change.

What the law says about discounts and event ads

Misleading discount ads are banned. A clinic may not advertise a discount or waiver of non-insured fees in a way that deceives or misleads consumers (Act art. 56(2)13).
What must be clear. The Enforcement Decree spells this out. An event or discount ad breaks the rule if the discount amount, who qualifies, the period or scope, or the price before the discount is false or unclear (Decree art. 23(1)13).
No patient testimonials. Medical ads may not use patient treatment stories that could mislead about results (Act art. 56(2)2).
Ads aimed at foreign patients. Advertising in Korea aimed at foreign patients is banned in general. Registered institutions may advertise in foreign languages at duty-free shops, international airports, trade ports and designated tourist zones, after review. They may not use before-and-after photos or videos (Act art. 56(2)12; foreign-patient Act).
Brokering and inducing. Nobody may, for profit, introduce, broker or induce patients to a clinic by offering money or goods, or free transport to the public (Act art. 27(3)). Attracting foreign patients who are not enrolled in Korean national health insurance is an exception. In practice, institutions and agencies registered under the foreign-patient Act do this work. Registered clinics and agencies may not demand commissions above the MOHW rate or give false information.

Whether a particular price list or ad breaks these rules is for the authorities to decide.

The government price database

Clinics report their non-insured fees to MOHW, which surveys them and may publish the results (Act art. 45-2). Publication is mandatory for hospital-level institutions. The 2026 disclosure also covers clinics: it includes 74,449 institutions and was published from 3 September 2026. Prices for 753 non-insured items can be looked up on the HIRA website (hira.or.kr) and in the 건강e음 (Health e-Eum) app. The items are 460 procedures, 262 therapeutic materials and 31 certificate and document fees.

We did not confirm which cosmetic items are among the 753. Older reports (2021) said cosmetic items were limited, for example hair transplant. Do not assume that Botox or filler prices are in the database. Check the item list on the HIRA site.

Questions to ask before you accept an event price

What is the regular price for the same item, and where is it posted: the desk list or the clinic's website?
What exactly is included: which product, how many units, cc or shots, and how many areas?
Who qualifies for the event price (first visit, a review, a package), and until what date?
Is VAT included in the event price?
Who will perform the treatment, and does the doctor change the price?
Can I have the event price in writing, with the date?
If an agency quotes the price, is it registered, and does its fee come on top of the clinic's price? Registered agencies must display their registration certificate where anyone can see it.
What happens to the event price if I cancel or move the date? See deposits and cancellations.

FAQ

Can a Korean clinic charge more than its posted price?

No. Article 45(3) of the Medical Service Act says a clinic may not charge more than the non-insured fees and certificate fees it has posted. The posted list must be kept where patients can easily see it, such as reception, and shown separately on the clinic's website if it has one. If the bill differs from the list, ask the clinic to explain.

Do Korean clinics have to publish their prices?

Yes, for non-insured fees. Clinics must keep a price list where patients can see it and, if they run a website, show the fees there separately. They also report fees to MOHW, which may publish them. A clinic can show bundled items as one package total, so a package price may not break down by item.

What must a discount or event ad state?

The Enforcement Decree says an event or discount ad is unlawful if the discount amount, who qualifies, the period or scope, or the price before the discount is false or unclear. An event ad must therefore be clear about the discount, the eligible patients, the period or scope, and the price before the discount. If one of these is missing, ask the clinic to put it in writing.

Are Botox and filler prices in the government database?

We could not confirm it. The 2026 disclosure covers 753 non-insured items on the HIRA website and in the 건강e음 app. We did not verify which cosmetic items are included, and older reports said cosmetic items were limited. Check the HIRA item list before you rely on it, and compare with the clinic's own posted prices.

Why does this directory show only regular prices?

Event prices are time-limited and depend on who qualifies, so they do not compare cleanly between clinics. The tables in our guides show regular published prices, with the VAT basis and the date each price was checked. Ask the clinic whether an event price applies to you.

Sources

Statutes were read on law.go.kr on 29 October 2026. Rules and notices change, so confirm on the official sites.

Event price vs list price at Korean clinics: what the law says