Prime Highlights
- South Korea has approved telemedicine access for foreign patients before and after treatment, expanding cross-border healthcare services.
- The move is expected to strengthen medical tourism and improve continuity of care for international patients.
Key Facts
- The amendment allows remote consultations, diagnoses, prescriptions and follow-up care through registered healthcare providers.
- South Korea receives around two million foreign patients annually, driving demand for digital healthcare services.
Background
The Republic of Korea has ratified a legal amendment enabling foreigners to obtain telemedical assistance before and after getting care in their territory, which signifies an important milestone in the development of its e-health system.
The revised Medical Overseas Expansion Act permits registered healthcare providers to offer remote consultations, diagnoses, prescriptions, counseling, education and follow-up care to international patients. The new rules also extend telemedicine services to first-time overseas patients planning to seek treatment in South Korea.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the amendment responds to growing demand from international visitors, with foreign patient arrivals reaching nearly two million annually. The increase in short-term medical travelers has created a need for remote consultations before treatment and continued care after patients return to their home countries.
Under the updated legislation, both clinic-level and hospital-level medical institutions will be allowed to provide telemedicine services to overseas patients. Moreover, it would also be feasible to establish a remote consultation and prescription system.
This new system was introduced by the government in order to make South Korean healthcare services accessible while also increasing the reputation of South Korea as a global healthcare destination. Patients would therefore have the opportunity to receive medical assistance and advice at any time through remote consultations.
Regulatory measures to prevent abuse of the service have also been included in the amendment. It gives the authorities the power to cancel the registration of any non-compliant healthcare provider.
This comes before the introduction of new telemedicine regulations under the Medical Services Act that will come into effect from December 2026. However, officials clarified that the upcoming changes do not apply to foreign patients, thus the need for the new amendment.
