Now | Hip Replacements Cheap in Korea
There is an interesting new shift in Seoul’s direction to increase tourism in preparation for its 2010 debut as a World Design Capital City.
We already know about Mayor Oh-Se-hoon’s initiative to build bike paths across Seoul.
But did you know that in an effort to increase tourism traffic to 12-million visitors by 2010, Korea is also increasing facilities and options for medical tourists?
As reported by the NY Times, an excerpt:
In this city’s Apgujeong district, famous for its high-end boutiques and plastic surgeons, tourist buses unload Chinese and Japanese visitors looking for a nip and tuck as part of their packaged tour.
…
South Korea has joined Thailand, Singapore, India and other Asian nations in the lucrative business of medical tourism. Heart bypasses, spinal surgery, hip-joint replacements, cosmetic surgery — procedures that may cost tens of thousands of dollars in the United States — can often be done for one-third or even one-tenth of the cost in Asia, with much shorter waiting times and by specialists often trained in the West.
It may be time to reconsider what you’re taking home to show mom: the new girlfriend or the new nose?
Check out the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s web report on this subject here. The price comparisons might shock you!
--Posted by Ratemyhagwon
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After reading this, I think I’m going to be sick. But that’s good, right? Any word on insurance coverage? Last time I checked I had to backpay to the government from the time I came to Korea, which was than I want to pay.
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