Questions to ask before a medical consultation in Korea

By KMedTrip editorial · Updated 2026-10-10 · Written with AI assistance · Reviewed by KMedTrip native-speaker review team

This guide is general information, not medical advice. KMedTrip is run by a government-registered foreign patient facilitator (an agency that helps international patients arrange medical care). We do not recommend, rank or receive payment from any hospital or clinic.

A consultation (a first meeting with a doctor to talk about your plan) in Korea can move fast. Many visitors have only a few days. Sometimes the consultation and the procedure happen on the same day.

Writing your questions down before you go helps. It slows the conversation down. It also lets you compare answers calmly.

This checklist is not about choosing a clinic. It helps you understand what you agree to, what it costs, and what happens if something goes wrong.

Key takeaways

• Bring a written list of questions. Write down the answers, or ask for them in writing.
• Ask who will actually perform the procedure. For surgery and general anesthesia, Korean law says this must be explained before you sign a consent form.
• Get the total cost in writing. It should include tests, medicine, aftercare visits and the currency.
• Ask what happens if there is a complication after you fly home.
• Ask for copies of your records and your consent form before you leave Korea.

How to use this checklist

Follow these steps in order.

You can print this page or save it on your phone.

Before the consultation

Figure 1. Four things to do before the consultation. ① Check registration. ② Ask about language support. ③ Bring your medical history. ④ Do not decide under time pressure.

Do these four things first.

1. Check registration

• Institutions that attract foreign patients must register with the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
• You can search the register on the Medical Korea website. See our guide on checking registration.
• Registered institutions must carry medical malpractice liability insurance (insurance that pays if a patient is harmed by a medical mistake) (KHIDI, as of Oct 2026).

2. Ask about language

• Many hospitals that treat foreign patients have an interpreter (VISITKOREA, as of Oct 2026).
• If yours does not, see our interpreter guide.
• Do not rely on a friend’s guesswork for medical details.

3. Bring your medical history

Write a one-page list with:

• current medicines and doses
• allergies
• past surgeries
• long-term conditions, such as asthma or diabetes

Translate it into English or Korean if you can.

4. Do not decide under time pressure

• Ask for time to think.
• You never have to accept a same-day procedure.

About the doctor and procedure

Figure 2. Eight questions about the doctor and the procedure. ① Diagnosis and proposed procedure. ② Who will perform it. ③ Is the doctor a specialist. ④ Type of anesthesia and who gives it. ⑤ Common risks and complications. ⑥ Alternatives, or doing nothing. ⑦ How long it takes, and when you can walk, fly and work. ⑧ CCTV recording request.

What Korean law says

The Korean Medical Service Act, Article 24-2, covers informed consent (agreeing after the risks are explained to you). It applies before surgery, blood transfusion or general anesthesia (medicine that puts you fully to sleep) that could seriously affect your life or body (Medical Service Act, law.go.kr, as of Oct 2026).

Before you sign, the doctor must explain:

• the diagnosis (what the doctor thinks the problem is)
• why the treatment is needed
• how it is done
• who will perform it
• the usual risks and complications (problems that can happen after treatment)
• how to prepare, and how to care for yourself afterwards

You can ask for a copy of the signed consent form.

Questions to ask

1. What exactly is the diagnosis or goal? What procedure do you suggest?
2. Who will perform it? Is it the same doctor I am seeing now? Will anyone else be involved?
3. Is the doctor a specialist (a doctor with extra board training) in this field?
4. What type of anesthesia is used? Who gives it?
5. What are the common risks and complications?
6. Are there non-surgical or smaller options? What happens if I do nothing?
7. How long does the procedure take? When can I walk, fly and work?
8. Does the operating room have CCTV? Can I ask for a recording?

About question 8: since September 2023, clinics that operate on unconscious patients (for example, under general anesthesia) must have a camera in the operating room. If the patient or a family member asks, the clinic must film the operation (Medical Service Act, Article 38-2, and Enforcement Rule, Articles 39-10 to 39-15, law.go.kr, checked Oct 2026).

• How to ask. Fill in a filming request form before the operation. The clinic must give you this form. Show your passport.
• What is filmed. From the start of anesthesia until you leave the operating room. Sound is recorded only if you and all staff in the room agree.
• When they can refuse. For example, an emergency operation, a very high-risk life-saving operation, training at a teaching hospital, or a technical fault. Also if the request comes too late and would delay the operation. They must tell you the reason before the operation.
• Who can watch it. Not just anyone. Only a court or investigators, the mediation agency K-medi after mediation starts (with consent), or when everyone in the video agrees. The clinic keeps the video for at least 30 days. There may be a fee to view it.

A warning sign

Be careful with any answer that promises a result. Every medical procedure has risks. A clear explanation of risks is a good sign, not a bad one.

About total cost and what is included

Figure 3. Seven questions about cost. ① Total cost in Korean won (KRW). ② Are tests, anesthesia, medicine and follow-ups included? ③ Is VAT included (10%)? ④ Deposit, and can you get it back? ⑤ Cancellation and refund policy in writing. ⑥ Extra charges for a revision (a second procedure to fix or adjust the first). ⑦ Payment methods and an itemized receipt.

Most cosmetic treatments are non-covered (not paid by Korean national insurance). Each institution sets its own price. There are no fixed national prices for most cosmetic procedures. So the key is to know the full amount before you agree.

Questions to ask

1. What is the total cost, in Korean won (KRW), for everything?
2. Does it include tests before the procedure, anesthesia, medicine, dressings, compression garments (tight elastic clothing worn after some surgery) and follow-up visits?
3. Is VAT (value-added tax) included? Cosmetic procedures are generally charged 10% VAT in Korea (Korean VAT rules, as of Oct 2026). The VAT refund for foreign patients’ cosmetic procedures ended on 31 December 2025. See our VAT refund guide.
4. How much is the deposit? Can I get it back if I cancel, or if the doctor says I am not suitable?
5. What is the cancellation and refund policy? Can I have it in writing?
6. Are there extra charges if a revision or more treatment is needed?
7. Which payment methods do you accept? Will I get an itemized receipt (a receipt that lists each charge)?

Keep it on paper

• Ask for an itemized quote on paper or by email.
• Keep it with your travel documents.
• Compare it with the final bill before you pay.

About aftercare and complications

Figure 4. Seven questions about aftercare (care after the procedure). ① Follow-up visits in Korea. ② Days to stay before flying. ③ Normal symptoms vs. emergency signs. ④ After-hours contact in your language. ⑤ Who pays for complications in Korea. ⑥ Support after you return home. ⑦ Liability insurance.

Most problems are easier to handle if you know the plan in advance.

Questions to ask

1. How many follow-up visits do I need in Korea, and when?
2. How many days should I stay in Korea before flying?
3. Which symptoms are normal? Which mean I should call, or go to an emergency room?
4. Who do I contact at night or at weekends? Does that number answer in my language?
5. If a complication happens in Korea, who pays for the extra treatment?
6. If a problem appears after I go home, what support can you give?
7. Is the institution insured for medical accidents? Registered institutions must have liability insurance (KHIDI, as of Oct 2026).

Help numbers in Korea

(Medical Korea and Korea Tourism Organization, as of Oct 2026)

About records and follow-up at home

Figure 5. Five records to take home. ① Copies of records, notes and images. ② A summary in English. ③ Take-home medicines, with generic names. ④ A letter for your local doctor. ⑤ How to contact the clinic from abroad.

Your doctor at home needs details of what was done. Under the Medical Service Act, Article 21, patients can ask to see or copy their medical records (law.go.kr, as of Oct 2026).

Ask before you leave Korea. Requests from abroad are harder and usually need extra paperwork.

Questions to ask

1. Can I get a copy of my medical records, operation notes, images and test results?
2. Can I get a summary or discharge note (a short report written when you leave) in English? Is there a fee?
3. What medicines am I taking home? What are their generic names (the name of the drug itself, not the brand)?
4. Can you write a letter for my local doctor? It should describe the procedure and any implants or materials used (brand, size, lot number if relevant).
5. How can I contact you from abroad? How long do replies usually take?

What copies cost

The Ministry of Health and Welfare sets upper limits for some documents (as of Oct 2026):

Other documents, such as a detailed English summary, are priced by the clinic. Ask first (Ministry of Health and Welfare notice on certificate fees, law.go.kr, checked Oct 2026).

If your insurer, employer or a court at home needs the document, it may need a certified translation or an apostille (an official stamp that makes a document valid abroad). Ask that organization what it needs before you leave Korea.

Store copies in three places

• on your phone
• in your email
• on paper

If something does not feel right

Stop and ask for help if:

• the answers are vague
• you are pushed to pay on the spot
• someone outside the institution is steering you, such as a “free guide”

The Medical Korea Information Center (+82-2-1577-7129, Medical Korea, as of Oct 2026) gives information to foreign patients. This includes complaints and illegal brokers (people who arrange patients without registration). See our guide on avoiding brokers and scams. If a dispute happens later, see our guide on reporting a medical dispute.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to decide on the day of the consultation? No. You can always ask for time to think. You never have to accept a same-day procedure.

Can I ask who will actually do my surgery? Yes. For surgery and general anesthesia, Korean law says the doctor must explain who will perform it before you sign (Medical Service Act, Article 24-2, as of Oct 2026).

Can I get my consent form and records in English? You can always ask for a copy of your consent form and records. An English version or summary depends on the institution. Record copies have a legal fee limit (1,000 won per page for the first 5 pages). Other documents are priced by the clinic, so ask first.

Is VAT included in the price I am quoted? Not always. Cosmetic procedures generally carry 10% VAT. Ask the institution to state in writing whether the quote includes it.

What if I have a problem after I fly home? Ask about this before you agree to treatment. Get the after-hours contact and your records in writing. See our guide on reporting a medical dispute for public channels.

Who can I call if I feel pressured? The Medical Korea Information Center on +82-2-1577-7129 (as of Oct 2026). In an emergency, call 119.

If you’d like help planning, you can talk to a coordinator.

Sources

• Korea Law Information Center, Medical Service Act (English translation), Articles 21, 24-2 and 38-2. https://www.law.go.kr/ (accessed 2026-10)
• Medical Korea, Medical Korea Information Center. https://www.medicalkorea.or.kr/en/convenient (accessed 2026-10)
• Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), insurance requirements for registered foreign-patient institutions (Korean). https://www.khidi.or.kr/ (accessed 2026-10)
• VISITKOREA, interpretation services for foreign patients. https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=185907 (accessed 2026-10)
• Medical Service Act, Article 38-2, and Enforcement Rule, Articles 39-10 to 39-15 (Korean). https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=290667 (accessed 2026-10)
• Ministry of Health and Welfare, fee limits for medical certificates and record copies (Korean). https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/admRulLsInfoP.do?admRulSeq=2100000197953 (accessed 2026-10)