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Research on ways to attract foreign patients to a Korean medicine clinic: a retrospective 2024 case study from Seoul

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment patterns of foreign patients visiting a single Korean medicine clinic to identify strategies for improving TKM-based medical tourism in South Korea. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 318 foreign outpatients who visited Tong-In Korean Medicine Clinic in Seoul from January to December 2024. Data on patient demographics, nationality, number of visits, treatment modalities, diagnoses, and herbal medicine prescriptions were collected and analyzed. Results: Three Hundred and Eighteen foreign patients visited a single Korean medicine clinic. 68.9% were female and 31.1% were male, with the majority in their 20s and 30s. Patients originated from 51 countries, with the highest proportions from the United States (31.45%), France (12.27%), and Singapore (8.49%). Most visits occurred in May and September. The most common type of case was musculoskeletal disorders (73, 9%). A total of 108 patients (34.0%) received combined modality treatment, with 88 patients (81.5%) receiving both acupuncture and internal medicine services. Herbal medicine was prescribed to 53.8% of patients, who took it for an average of 36.66 days per person. Pills were preferred over decoctions, with over twice as many patients taking pills (188) than decoctions (80). Discussion: The result of this study suggests that TKM-based medical tourism has a meaning in the realm of treating musculoskeletal disorders but also in internal medicine care. Also, this is the first post-COVID-19 study analyzing a TKM clinic in the context of medical tourism globalization. The growing demand for internal medicine services along with long-term herbal medicine use highlights the importance of integrated and personalized TKM medical programs to enhance the global competitiveness of TKM.

Source: Frontiers in Medicine

DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1633139

Authors: Jeong Hyeon Kim, Serin Lee, Mijoo Kim, Seung Hwan Lee, Jeong-Su Park

Institutions: Dongguk University, Semyung University

Language: English

Topic: Global Healthcare and Medical Tourism

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801