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【策展笔记②】日本·中国患者为何选择清潭？
本文目前提供英文版本。
Curating Note ② | Medical Tourism & Private Consultations
Why Japanese and Chinese patients choose
Cheongdam, Seoul over clinics back home
International medical tourists to Korea surpassed 2 million in 2025. We take a closer look at what's driving demand for premium clinics in the Cheongdam–Apgujeong area.
According to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the number of international patients visiting Korea exceeded 2 million in 2025, with total medical expenditure reaching approximately KRW 8.6 trillion. Japan and the Greater China region (mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) rank at the top for both patient volume and per-visit spending. Notably, the proportion of these visitors specifically seeking private clinics in the Cheongdam–Apgujeong area for dermatology and anti-aging treatments is growing rapidly.
SOEUN CLINIC is a private anti-aging clinic operating on a 100% appointment-only basis. We offer dedicated support channels in Japanese and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), with a single physician overseeing every aspect of the international patient experience — from travel logistics and interpretation to treatment planning. This article explores why so many patients from Japan and China choose Cheongdam over clinics in their home countries, examining both the medical and patient experience dimensions.
1. Needs left unmet at home — what makes the difference
![[Curating Note ②] Why Japanese & Chinese Patients Choose Cheongdam](https://jiikxsqkbvzglaerfznt.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/content-os/article-covers/1476871a-1788240578142.png)
Premium clinics in Japan and China each offer a high standard of medical infrastructure. Yet a certain segment of patients still chooses to make the journey to Seoul — and more often than not, the reason isn't a gap in treatment quality, but a difference in how care is delivered.
What patients tell us
In Japan, it's common for appointments to wrap up within 15 to 20 minutes, and many clinics are structured so that patients spend more time with staff than with the physician. In China, large hospitals see such high patient volumes that personalized treatment planning is often impractical. The frustration shared by high-end patients in both countries comes down to one thing: "There's no one who looks at my face as a whole and designs a plan around it."
At SOEUN CLINIC, Dr. Kim So-eun personally oversees every stage — from the initial consultation through treatment and aftercare. Lifting, skin boosters, regenerative treatments, and body contouring are not offered as separate standalone programs, but addressed as part of a single, integrated anti-aging strategy. This is a fundamentally different experience from visiting multiple departments at home to receive individual treatments one by one.
2M+
International patients who visited
Korea in 2025
KRW 8.6 Trillion
Total medical spending
by international patients
#1·#2
Japan & Greater China
Top source markets
2. Why Cheongdam–Apgujeong has become a destination — accessibility and privacy
The Cheongdam–Apgujeong Rodeo area is one of the most concentrated hubs for private medical services in Korea. It's accessible from Incheon International Airport in 60 to 70 minutes via direct limousine bus or the Airport Railroad with subway connections, and the surrounding neighborhood is home to a dense cluster of global brand hotels and serviced residences — making it an ideal base for medical travel itineraries.
For international patients — particularly high-spending visitors from Japan and China — privacy is a non-negotiable priority. Waiting in an open reception area alongside other patients, or moving through a clinic where your visit might be visible to others, creates a psychological barrier for this segment of clientele.
SOEUN CLINIC — International Patient Journey
Step 1
Online Pre-Appointment
Confirm your consultation booking in advance via our Japanese or Chinese language channel
Step 2
1:1 Assessment with Your Dedicated Physician
Dr. Kim So-eun conducts a personal skin analysis and designs your anti-aging plan
Step 3
Integrated Treatment
Customized application of lifting, skin boosters, regenerative treatments, and body contouring
Step 4
Remote Follow-Up After Your Return
Progress check-ins after you return home, with coordination of your next visit
The 100% appointment-only model at SOEUN CLINIC is more than an operational policy. It means arriving without a wait, having the treatment space entirely to yourself, and being able to focus entirely on your conversation with your doctor — and that's precisely why international patients say they come back.
3. Integrated anti-aging design — a comprehensive strategy, not a single treatment
Most patients who travel from abroad have already experienced one or two treatments at home. Many have undergone repeated sessions of Botox, filler, or laser, yet feel the results haven't taken them in the direction they hoped — or have encountered the limitations of treating only one area at a time.
Lifting
HIFU, thread lifting, and Ultherapy-class energy devices are combined and targeted by skin layer. Volume loss and sagging are addressed simultaneously.
Skin Boosters
Next-generation hyaluronic acid formulations such as Dual-HA address elasticity, radiance, and hydration density in combination. A step above standard moisture injections, with precision delivery design.
Regenerative Treatments
RF microneedling with devices such as Sylfirm X and exosome-based regenerative therapy improve skin resilience and texture. Can be combined with pigmentation and vascular lesion management.
Body Contouring
Integrated planning that extends beyond the face to overall body aesthetics. Anti-aging care is approached holistically — not limited to facial treatments.
What matters is that these four lines are not separate menu options — they each begin from a single diagnostic assessment. Dr. Kim So-eun has continuously developed and refined multi-layered anti-aging protocols through her training and fellowship at Hanyang University College of Medicine, and through her role as Vice President of Academics at the Korean Obesity and Aesthetic Society (KOAT). The defining advantage this clinic offers is not technical proficiency in any single treatment, but the diagnostic ability to read a patient's face as a whole.
"It's not about improving just one area. The face needs to be in balance as a whole for the change to look natural. Finding that balance is where every consultation begins."
— Dr. Kim So-eun, SOEUN CLINIC
4. What to know before your visit — a guide for international patients
Here are answers to questions frequently asked by first-time visitors from Japan and China. SOEUN CLINIC provides personalized guidance through an online pre-consultation before your arrival.
Timing your visit
Some treatments may cause temporary redness or swelling immediately after. We recommend building in at least one to two days before your return flight to allow for recovery.
Sharing your current medications
Any medications that affect blood coagulation — such as aspirin or antiplatelet agents — as well as dietary supplements, must be disclosed during the pre-visit intake questionnaire.
Language support
SOEUN CLINIC operates dedicated support channels in Japanese and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). Bookings and pre-consultation intake can be completed in your preferred language.
The quality of a medical travel experience is determined not just by what happens on the day of treatment, but by the full journey — including communication before and aftercare following your visit. SOEUN CLINIC manages this entire journey through a single, unified channel.
FAQ
Q. Can I fly in from Japan and have a treatment on the same day?
A. Same-day treatment is possible for some procedures, depending on the type of treatment and your individual skin condition. That said, we recommend scheduling your appointment for the morning of your arrival or the day before, and keeping your itinerary flexible until the day before your return flight — to allow sufficient time for assessment and post-treatment monitoring. A pre-visit online intake can help us plan your schedule more precisely.
Q. What language is the consultation conducted in? Do I need to arrange my own interpreter?
A. SOEUN CLINIC operates support channels in Japanese and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). Bookings, pre-consultation intake, and post-return progress follow-up are all available in your preferred language. How communication is handled on the day of your visit can be arranged in advance at the time of booking.
Q. Can I receive both lifting and skin booster treatments in one visit?
A. Whether multiple treatments can be performed in a single visit depends on your skin condition, the compatibility of the treatment combination, and your overall condition on the day. Rather than pursuing an ambitious combination, the guiding principle is to determine the safest and most effective sequence and timing after a proper assessment. This decision is always made directly with Dr. Kim So-eun during the diagnostic consultation.
Q. How does aftercare work once I've returned home?
A. You can share post-treatment photos and any symptoms through our dedicated language channel, and your physician will review them remotely and provide guidance as needed. Your next visit can also be coordinated through the same channel. SOEUN CLINIC is committed to being a long-term anti-aging partner, not just a one-time stop.
Q. How do I get to Cheongdam from the airport?
A. From Incheon International Airport, the journey takes approximately 60 to 70 minutes via direct limousine bus (Route 6100, etc.) or by taking the Airport Railroad (AREX) and transferring to Subway Line 7 at Hakdong or Gangnam-gu Office Station. Apgujeong Rodeo Station (Bundang Line) is also nearby. Staying at a hotel or serviced residence in the Gangnam–Cheongdam area puts the clinic within easy walking distance or a very short ride away.
SOEUN CLINIC — Private Appointments
You can start from Japan or China.
Connect with us online before your visit.
Dr. Kim So-eun's 1:1 private consultations are available by appointment only. You can begin the pre-visit intake process and coordinate your schedule entirely online.
Book a 1:1 Private ConsultationAppointments only · Located in Cheongdam–Apgujeong Rodeo, Gangnam-gu, Seoul