Seoul names 19 patient-friendly hotels amid rise in medical tourism

Seoul has selected 19 accommodation facilities designed for foreign patients and their families as medical tourism surges. The Seoul city government announced the decision on Monday (Nov 2), choosing the sites from 40 applicants after document reviews. The designated services include dedicated floors and lounges for medical tourists, free laundry, transportation assistance, and multilingual emergency guidance. Demand is rising: about 1.76 million foreign patients visited medical institutions in Seoul in 2025, up from roughly 470,000 in 2023. Seoul accounted for 87.2% of nationwide foreign-patient visits. The designation lasts until 2027 and covers properties such as Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and Park Hyatt Seoul.