Korean Ophthalmology Guide: LASIK, LASEK & SMILE
Korean ophthalmology is renowned for vision correction surgery volume and safety. The latest procedures — ReLEx SMILE, LASIK, LASEK — are all available.
Surgery Cost
LASIK 1.5–2.5M KRW, LASEK 1.5–2M KRW, SMILE 2.5–3.5M KRW. All are out-of-pocket.
Pre-visit Checklist
(1) Verify the medical advertising review number per Article 56 of the Korean Medical Service Act. (2) Confirm the consulting physician is the same as the surgeon. (3) Check that a board-certified anesthesiologist is on-site. (4) Get the side-effect / revision policy in writing. (5) Confirm the clinic is registered to serve foreign patients. (6) Ask which languages interpreters are available in. (7) Get the booking, cancellation, and refund policy in writing. (8) Confirm medical receipts and diagnostic certificates are available. Check all eight points by phone or at the first consultation. CAREMAP only lists clinics verified through Korea's HIRA public dataset.
Budgeting Tips
Out-of-pocket procedure prices vary significantly between clinics. Total cost typically breaks down as [procedure + anesthesia + admission + lab + recovery room]; all should be itemized on the estimate. For medical tourism packages including flight, lodging, and interpretation, total budget is typically 1.3–1.5× the procedure cost. Confirm whether follow-up care (dressing, suture removal) is included. Korean clinics commonly offer installment payment and foreign currency (USD / JPY / CNY) payment is widely supported.
Understanding the Korean Medical System
Korean medical institutions are classified into 3 tiers: clinics (primary care), hospitals (secondary), and general / tertiary hospitals (advanced care). Out-of-pocket cosmetic and plastic surgery is mostly done at primary clinics, while tertiary hospitals focus on serious illness. All institutions operate under Korean Medical Service Act licensing, and any procedure photos or advertising require advance review under Article 56. Foreign patients may stay short-term on a medical visa (C-3-3); stays over 90 days require a medical tourism visa. Foreign-patient-registered institutions are certified by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare.
FAQ
How long is the recovery?
LASIK and SMILE allow normal activity from the next day. LASEK requires 7–10 days for vision to stabilize.