Experiencing Beauty Tourism in Korea
Last Updated on June 16, 2025 by Erin Donahue
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “You’re not ugly, you’re just poor” that doesn’t apply in South Korea, the plastic surgery capital of the world. It’s no secret procedures in the U.S. are dumb expensive, so beauty tourism in Korea has become increasingly popular. And for good reason!
After my positive experience with medical tourism in Taiwan, I hopped on another flight back to Asia because I wanted to explore Korea’s renowned beauty scene. Innovation and efficiency are everything in Korea. I experienced this right away and previously wrote about taking a nap at a secret spa in Incheon Airport before heading into the city.
Advanced Skincare Beauty Clinic
I chose Abijou Clinic‘s Myeongdong location as the destination of my beauty tourism in Korea because it came through a word-of-mouth referral, as I didn’t trust the countless clinics you see promoted on social media with undisclosed partnerships. With this type of stuff, I’d rather pay out of pocket because if they mess up my face, I can say so. Plus, they’re foreigner-friendly!
In the end, I decided to do five treatments, which is a typical amount at these clinics, and I scheduled my appointment at the end of my trip so that I didn’t have a busted face the whole time. When I arrived at opening time, the clinic was already buzzing with activity. Consultants and translators moved efficiently between rooms, serving a diverse clientele of both locals and tourists, young and old, men and women.
I’ll be honest, I have a low pain threshold. So for my first serious venture into advanced skincare, I decided to start relatively conservatively.
Korean Beauty Procedures and How Much Did They Cost?
This appointment began with a preparatory facial, followed by Excel V laser to tackle my freckles from sun damage. The pain was a manageable 4 out of 10, and they immediately soothed it with a cooling mask.
After a few minutes, they slathered numbing cream for microneedling. While Rejuran is all the rage in Korea for skin collagen production, I opted for the less intense option this time. I’ve seen tons of reviews that Rejuran is excruciatingly painful, even with numbing cream, so that will be a journey for another day, preferably at a plastic surgeon’s office where they can put me to sleep!
Then came my first lip filler experience. My one non-negotiable was no duck lips. I wanted natural-looking results, and they relieved me by showing me their use of Restylane Kyss, a softer filler specifically designed for lips. In the U.S., clinics and medspas often use harder fillers such as Juvederm, which frequently migrate.
My session ended with some “preventative” Botox, and while I know I might not need it yet, the prices here made it too good to pass up. The whole experience took about three hours, and they thought of everything. From the robot serving drinks afterward to providing prescriptions for needed aftercare. The coolest part is that these services are tax-refundable! Here’s a breakdown of everything I had done during my beauty tourism appointment at Abijou, including prices:
1. Preparatory Facial
- Purpose: To prep the skin before laser and microneedling
- Experience: Gentle and relaxing
- Pain Level: 0/10
- Included in package? No – small additional cost
2. Excel V Laser Treatment: $115
- Purpose: Target sun damage and freckles. Needs three sessions, but big difference even after one
- Pain Level: 4/10
- Post-care: A cooling mask provided immediately after
- Result: Fading of dark spots; wish they’d treated more area
3. Microneedling: $383
- Purpose: Boost collagen and skin texture
- Why I chose it: Boost collagen
- Pain Level: Low, thanks to numbing cream, but when it wore off, it was medium
- Result: Months of breakouts and discoloration, not for everyone
4. Lip Filler (Restylane Kyss): $286
- Purpose: Specifically made for lips with natural-looking results
- Why this filler: Softer than Juvederm; less likely to migrate
5. Botox (U.S. Brand): $84 ($40 per area)
- Purpose: Smoothing of fine lines
Total Cost of Beauty Tourism in Korea (USD)
- Flights (round-trip): $226.88
- Hotel: $627.96
- Abijou Clinic (all treatments): $871.65
- Pharmacy (aftercare): $17.18
- Total: $1,743.67
Want to know how my skin held up long-term? I wrote a six-month update on my experience with beauty tourism in Korea.
Non-Invasive Beauty Treatments
While medical beauty treatments might steal the spotlight for beauty tourism in Korea, these are all the non-invasive pampering experiences I indulged in at a fraction of what it would’ve cost me in the U.S.
Facial at Cellenique
The day after arriving, I went to Cellenique Yongsan to get a collagen facial. I found them on TikTok because I was specifically looking for affordable facials at Korean prices rather than U.S. prices. If I want to pay U.S. prices, I’ll just get a facial in the States. You’ll find it in Yongsan’s The Prime Apartment complex, just steps from Namyeong Station’s Exit 1. The service was $60 (90,000 won), but using a credit card included an additional hefty fee of 9,000 won.
K-Pop Makeover and Haircut at Eco Jardin
Next was getting a haircut at Eco Jardin. I hadn’t cut my hair in a year because a simple haircut runs around $100 in NYC. Here, they gave me a fresh cut and provided a color analysis service, helping me understand which tones suit my complexion best. After the evaluation, it turns out my personal color is Summer Light!
A few days afterward, I also returned to Eco Jardin for a K-pop makeover. I wanted to see firsthand how Korean makeup artists would interpret my features and transform my look. It was fascinating to see their techniques and approach to glamour.
Full Body Massage at Spa Gogyeol
The pinnacle of my pampering was at Spa Gogyeol. Experiencing this traditional Korean full-body massage was the biggest splurge of my trip. The techniques were unlike anything I’d experienced before, combining centuries-old traditions with modern wellness practices. It was pretty obvious I’m no longer as spry as I used to be, as the note card they gave me stated I have knots in my traps and a lack of hip mobility.
Gel Manicure at Nail Wizard Gangnam
And what’s a beauty tour without some nail art? I couldn’t resist getting a Korean gel manicure at Nail Wizard’s Gangnam branch. They don’t communicate in English at all, and require a deposit from a bank account, so I had to ask a Korean friend to help me book the reservation. Korea is known for its quirky and creative designs, and my Korean nail artist didn’t disappoint. The best part is my nail art only set me back $40 – a price that would easily be tripled back home.
These experiences weren’t just about beauty treatments; they were about discovering a different approach to self-care. Each service offered a unique glimpse into Korean beauty culture, proving that sometimes the best souvenirs aren’t things you can pack in your suitcase.
Reflections After Splurging
Even with Korea’s relatively affordable beauty prices, not every treatment deserves a spot on your itinerary. After getting carried away and trying more services than I’d like to admit, I’m breaking down what I’d skip next time – and more importantly, what treatments deserve your time and money in the beauty capital of the world.
Let’s start with Spa Gogyeol. At $150 for a traditional Korean massage, it was the biggest splurge of my trip. While the experience was undeniably nice and relaxing, and yes, quite luxurious, I found myself thinking about all the other treatments I could have explored with that budget. In a city brimming with tons of cheap beauty services (for an American), this is just something I could have passed on.
Then there’s the K-Pop makeover. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun and surprisingly affordable at under $100, but it was purely for the novelty factor. In retrospect, I probably could have achieved similar results by following some YouTube tutorials. Still, I can’t say I regret it entirely – it was a quintessential Korean experience. It’s worth doing if you’re curious about K-pop styling techniques, but it’s not something I’d prioritize on future visits.
As for the color analysis and gel manicure, both fall into the category of services better done elsewhere. The color analysis was valuable for understanding my personal color palette, but it’s obviously a one-time need. Meanwhile, the gel manicure, though beautifully done, wasn’t unique enough to justify the scheduling effort at Nail Wizard, especially since I do gel-x at home and stocked up on supplies at the Nail Mall, a wholesale warehouse for salons. I later discovered plenty of nail salons in places like Hongdae that would have been just as good without the hassle of reservations.
Beauty Tourism In Korea Worth the Splurge
But it’s not all about what I wouldn’t do again. Some services have earned a spot on my must-visit list! The first is the facial at Cellenique. It was a great facial and massage all in one, and budget-friendly. And while I tried Spa on Air for the jjimjilbang experience, next time I’m excited to explore other locations for this quintessentially Korean form of relaxation.
Obviously, I’ll be going to do more advanced skincare at a clinic, but I plan to visit a plastic surgeon’s office so they can put me under for the more painful treatments. At the end of the day, Korea’s beauty scene is like a massive buffet – it’s tempting to try everything, but you’ll enjoy the experience more if you choose wisely.
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Would like your input on treatments as I am going to Korea in September.