Paying for treatment in Korea (and the VAT refund in 2026)
You pay the clinic directly at its transparent rate, and Book Korea Medical adds no markup — the figure on your quote is the figure you settle. Some bookings are secured with a small deposit, which we disclose up front, and the balance is paid at the clinic on the day of treatment by card or cash. Korea's 10% VAT is already included in the price, and the former foreign-patient VAT refund on cosmetic procedures ended on 31 December 2025 and does not apply in 2026 — there is nothing to reclaim afterward.
How you pay
Payment goes to the clinic directly, not through us. The quote you receive is the price you settle, because Book Korea Medical is paid a commission by the clinic rather than a markup added to your treatment. That keeps the number you see and the number you pay the same.
Some bookings are held with a deposit so the clinic can reserve your slot; we disclose the deposit amount up front, and it counts toward your total. The balance is settled at the clinic on the day of treatment, at the clinic's transparent rate, once you have had your consultation and agreed the plan.
Clinics generally accept both card and cash. Prices are set in Korean won, so if you pay by card your bank converts at its own exchange rate on the day, and any cash you bring should be in won. We show the figure in won with an approximate US-dollar equivalent so you can plan, but the won amount is the one that settles.
What you pay, and when
A booking moves through a few clear stages. Nothing is settled before you have seen a transparent quote and agreed the plan at consultation.
| Stage | What happens | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation & quote | You receive a free consultation in your language and an itemized written quote at the clinic's transparent rate. | Nothing |
| Securing the booking | When a deposit applies, it reserves your slot and is disclosed up front. It counts toward your total. | Deposit, when applicable |
| Day of treatment | You confirm the plan at the clinic and settle the remainder by card or cash. | Balance at the transparent rate |
| After treatment | You are done — the price you settled is final. The former foreign-patient VAT refund on cosmetic procedures ended in 2025 and does not apply in 2026. | Nothing further |
Deposits are disclosed before you commit and are credited toward the total. Whether a deposit applies depends on the clinic and the booking.
Based on participating-clinic booking and payment practice. Your written quote is the binding figure.
VAT is included — and the foreign-patient refund has ended
Korea's 10% value-added tax is already included in the price a clinic quotes for a cosmetic procedure, so it is not added again at the counter.
The foreign-patient VAT refund on cosmetic and aesthetic procedures (Special Tax Treatment Control Act, Articles 107-3 and 107-4) expired on 31 December 2025 and was not extended for 2026. As of 2026 there is no VAT to reclaim on these procedures — the transparent price you settle is your final, effective cost.
Older clinic pages and platform listings may still describe a 'VAT refund at the clinic' for cosmetic treatment; for 2026 that scheme no longer applies to aesthetic procedures. We quote the real 2026 figure, with nothing pending afterward, so there are no surprises.
FAQ
Is the quote the final price?
Yes. The written quote reflects the clinic's transparent rate, and we add no markup, so the figure you see is the figure you settle. The only changes would come from you adjusting the plan after consultation — for example, adding an area.
Do I pay a deposit?
Sometimes. Certain bookings are held with a deposit so the clinic can reserve your slot. When one applies, we disclose the amount up front and it counts toward your total, so it is not an extra charge on top of the quote.
Can I pay by card?
In most cases, yes. Clinics generally accept both card and cash for the balance settled on the day of treatment. If a particular clinic has a preference, we tell you before you travel so there are no surprises at the counter.
In what currency do I pay?
Prices are set in Korean won, and the won amount is what settles. If you pay by card, your bank converts at its own rate on the day; cash should be brought in won. We show an approximate US-dollar figure only to help you plan.
Can I get a VAT refund on cosmetic treatment in Korea in 2026?
No. The foreign-patient VAT refund on cosmetic and aesthetic procedures expired on 31 December 2025 and was not extended for 2026. The 10% VAT is already included in the price you settle, and there is nothing to reclaim afterward for these procedures this year.
Do I pay Book Korea Medical anything?
No. Our multilingual consultation and matching are free to you. We are paid a commission by the participating clinic, so you never pay us and never pay a markup — you settle only with the clinic itself.
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