South Korea’s inbound medical tourism has passed a milestone that few markets can match: 2,011,822 foreign patients were treated in the country in 2025, four times the 497,464 recorded in 2019. The same week, K-food exports crossed $10 billion in just 253 days, and November’s comeback calendar filled up with the heaviest release slate of the year.
K-Beauty & Medical: 87% of patients go to small clinics
Dermatology accounted for 62.9 percent of foreign patients, followed by plastic surgery at 11.2 percent and internal medicine at 9.2 percent. China returned to first place with 618,973 patients (30.8 percent), ahead of Japan’s 600,009; the two neighbors made up 60.6 percent of the total. Taiwan jumped from 2,353 patients in 2019 to 185,715 last year, and U.S. patients hit a record 173,363. Seoul handled 87.2 percent of all patients, and 87.7 percent were treated at small clinics rather than hospitals. The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade estimates foreign patients and their companions spent 12.5 trillion won ($9.3 billion) last year, generating a 22.8 trillion won total economic impact. The government is now building a “K-Healthcare Integrated Hub” that links clinic information, bookings, payments, aftercare and travel, with an information strategy due in 2026 and the hub planned for 2027-2028.
K-Pop: November’s release war
NCT DREAM marks its 10th debut anniversary with the full album “DREAM AFTER DREAM” on Nov. 9, the same day ITZY’s Chaeryeong makes her solo debut with “Lovesick.” P1Harmony closes its long-running hero saga with “BLOW UP” on Nov. 6, ATEEZ returns with “GOLDEN HOUR: Part.6” on Nov. 13, TOMORROW X TOGETHER drops “PERFECT STORM” on Nov. 16, and TWICE’s Nayeon releases “NA-sty” on Nov. 20. BTS opens the Asia leg of its “ARIRANG” tour in Kaohsiung on Nov. 19, 21 and 22; Billboard Boxscore puts the tour past $500 million, and its 14 South American shows drew 853,000 fans.
K-Food & Travel: record exports, open bookings
Ramen exports rose 27.2 percent to $1.31 billion, strawberries 15.5 percent and grapes 64.6 percent; Kroger will begin sourcing tteokbokki from small Korean producers under its own brand this month. In Seoul, registration for the 2026 Seoul K-Content Week (Nov. 14-20) opens at 2 p.m. KST on Nov. 5, with K-beauty classes at Amorepacific headquarters on Nov. 17 and a K-drama location tour on Nov. 18.
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