It is reported that the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea for specialized medical institutions in the fields of cosmetology and plastic surgery has surpassed 700,000 as of last March. HealingPaper, which operates Gangnam-unnie, officially announced on the 27th that the number of customers who successfully completed consultations and reservations with dermatology and plastic surgery clinics in Korea through its self-developed foreigner-exclusive reservation platform, 'Unnie,' achieved this record. This is a symbolic event showing that the Korean medical tourism industry is garnering significant global attention, going beyond a simple increase in numbers.
The Unnie platform provides services in six languages, including Japanese, English, Thai, and Chinese, and is enhancing accessibility through continuous multilingual expansion. Japanese language support began in 2019, followed by English, Thai, and Chinese services will be added starting in 2025, steadily expanding the global user base. This explosive increase in the number of reservations is the result of the convergence of increased inflow of foreign tourists and growth in the K-beauty medical market. According to Ministry of Health and Welfare statistics, foreign patients visiting Korea in 2025 surpassed 2 million, a record high, with approximately 1.31 million (62.9%) visiting dermatology clinics. The entire field of aesthetic medical care, including plastic surgery, accounts for more than 74% of visitor numbers, making it a core driver of the tourism industry.
Looking at reservation trends by country, Japan is showing the fastest growth rate. Approximately 200,000 people from Japan attempted new consultations and reservations in the past year, accounting for the largest proportion among total reservists. On the other hand, since the launch of the English version app, the number of reservists from English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom has also increased significantly, rising 3.2 times in the past year. Thailand has seen a growth of about 20 times, and Taiwan, which has expanded services substantially starting in 2025, has surged 25 times, receiving enthusiastic responses both within and outside Asia.
Due to the increase in the number of reservations, the revenue of the operator HealingPaper has also grown significantly. In 2025, HealingPaper's total revenue reached 97.9 billion KRW, a 45% increase from the previous year, and particularly, the revenue of the Japan subsidiary jumped nearly two times from 7.6 billion KRW to 13.7 billion KRW. This is the result of the Gangnam-unnie Japan local platform quickly establishing itself in the local market and proving its profitability. Hong Seung-il, CEO of HealingPaper, stated, "As Korea has leaped into becoming a hub for Asian medical tourism, welcoming 2 million foreign patients annually, Gangnam-unnie will also make greater efforts to attract foreign patients based on its IT technology and platform capabilities." He also expressed his determination to advance both online and offline services to contribute to the government's goal of welcoming 30 million foreign tourists.
In response to this increasing demand for foreign patients, HealingPaper is strengthening its guide service, 'Unnie Guide.' Unnie Guide is an online service that assists in selecting and reserving hospitals through 1-on-1 chat within the app, and this month, an offline space was opened in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This offline space provides information necessary for foreign patients regarding the entire process of Korean aesthetic medical reservations and conducts linked services, building a hybrid service model combining digital and analog.