Attractive Korean Medical Services

Cosmetic Medical Treatments for Foreign Tourists/Residents

By Magdalena Spassky (Russia)

Ms. Spassky is a Russian journalist who visited Seoul for covering G20 summit in November. She experienced teeth whitening program at hus'hu dental clinic, one of the Seoul city's partnering medical institutions.

I had a wonderful chance to experience teeth and skin whitening at the HusHu clinic in Seoul, arranged by the Korean Medical Tourism Center

What I really find specific about the Korean medical system is the human touch you get as a client. It starts from hyper-politeness of Korean clinic staff. As you get to the modern interior of the clinic, that looks more like a lobby of an exclusive five star hotel, you get a feeling that you are another Hollywood super-star who came to get her VIP treatment. Only paparazzi are missing from this idealistic scene. Everything in the Korean clinic is about you, the client.

It is no secret, that any dental or skin treatments are painful. I individually have a very high pain sensitivity, and especially teeth sensitivity. In all my life when I went through dental or skin treatments anywhere in the world except for Korea, I didn’t t have a doctor excusing and saying sorry every time when I felt a higher sensitivity, and waiting a couple of moments until the pain goes by. Imagine yourself moaning in the dental chair with your mouth open wide and you actually get somebody sitting next to you and holding your hand to make you comfortable. That employee of the clinic, nice Korean lady, would tell you that you have to go through all this suffering to have a brighter smile or better looking skin, she would share her own experiences and you realize that if your beauty requires medical interference, it s actually your job keep silent and wait when the doctor will make miracles! She becomes your friend for the time of the beauty procedure and every time she calls you later to make another appointment with a clinic you feel you are talking to friend and not a call service person!

Another way of showing this super-great hospitality is the very existence of fabulous organizations that are in place to provide you with all information about the medical services available. When I received an information about the Cosmetic Medical Treatments for Foreign Tourists/Residents, I immediately decided that I m so definitely interested in it! I got interviewed by the Seoul Medical Tourism Center, established and operated by Seoul Metropolitan City. It is located in downtown Seoul. Seoul Medical Tourism Center is a governmental institution created to promote medical tourism in Seoul and to provide counseling on medical institutions that can be found in Seoul. The event that I had a chance to experience was a part of the big promotion campaign. Year 2010 is announced as a Visit Korea year, it also coincided with Korea hosting the Formula 1 and G20 Summit, two good motivations for higher international mobility.

There is a term of “soft power” proposed by Harvard scholar Josef Nye, it helps the country to create its more positive international profile by co-option and attraction. It can be contrasted with 'hard power', that is the use of coercion and payment. Soft power can be wielded not just by states, but by all actors in international politics, such as NGOs or international institutions. You travel not only to get familiar with the local culture, such as music, fine arts and theater, but to understand what are human relationships in the country. Do people treat each other with respect, do you give a good care to children and older people, what level are the services. Yes, Korea already is known for the excellent services. It is about a genuine quality of all the services, which is so important in health care systems, but also staff to client attitudes, which is so touching in Korea!

In this regard, according to my experiences, the human touch is what makes Korean medical services very attractive. After the treatments are done, it is what stays in your memoirs about the Korean medical systems. I was so pleased by the services that I already have most of my best friends having appointments with the same clinic. Thank you to HusHu staff and Seoul Medical Tourism Center!