Feature: South Korea's medical tourism revenue slips amid growing malpractice

South Korea's revenue from medical tourism totaled 349 million U.S. dollars in 2014, down 6.5 percent compared with 2013, according to the latest statistics published by the Bank of Korea.

It was the first decline in medical tourism revenue since the central bank started collecting comparable data in 2006.

The South Korean government began to promote medical tourism in 2009 under the brand of "Medical Korean Wave." The relevant industry's revenue has experienced a year-by-year increase since then.

However, the increasing cases of plastic surgery disputes are casting a shadow over the country's leading service industry in recent years. Experts predict, henceforth, that the medical tourism industry may suffer a slow down.

"Many factors have contributed to this trend, including the slowing global economy and the side effects caused by the critical reports about dubious plastic surgeons in South Korea," Cho Soo Young, public relations director of the Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons told Xinhua.

On Jan. 27, a 50-year-old Chinese woman was declared brain dead following a surgery at a small clinic in the Gangnam District in Seoul. The clinic has since been closed, as it was accused of conducting cosmetic surgeries in violation of South Korea's health law.

This case has again raised concern about the safety of the country's plastic surgery industry. Huge doll eyes, high-bridged noses, V-shaped chin lines and pale, white skin, are just some of the physical changes sought after at South Korea's growing number of cosmetic surgery clinics.

Cho said that South Korea's leading plastic surgery industry is facing some severe problems. According to Cho, less than 2,000 surgeons are officially registered in South Korea, but actually a total of more than 20,000 cosmetic surgeons are operating in the market.

It was also reported that the number of illegal intermediary medical agents are booming, mainly focusing on absorbing overseas customers through misleading promotions with high brokerage fees. Some overseas students and travel agencies have also started to make money by acting as intermediaries, getting 30 to 50 percent from the total surgical fees.

"Customers should be cautious about these agents as they care more about money than customers' own safety. Customers should contact with hospitals or doctors directly and thoroughly before making a final decision, not blindly trusting the advertisements," said Park Jang-woo, the president of a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul.

Local media has exposed some clinics who have switched experienced doctors who have signed the agreements with customers beforehand, to young ones during the actual surgeries to make more profit. These so-called "ghost doctors" are an open secret in the industry.

Some clinics also charge foreign customers more than local ones. Local media reported that Chinese customers, in some instances, have to pay double or triple fees for an ordinary surgery such as double eyelids and rhinoplasty.

Cho said the South Korean government is making greater efforts in fighting against those illegal institutions and practices, and is considering passing stricter laws to regulate the malpractice in the medical service sector. Endi