Seoul is expanding support for international medical tourists by deploying 1,000 specialized medical interpreting coordinators this year, a tenfold increase from the current pool of 108.

The move comes as Seoul continues to dominate Korea’s medical tourism market. In 2024, about 1.17 million foreign patients visited Korea, and nearly 85 percent, around one million people, received treatment in Seoul, according to city officials.

To strengthen services, the Seoul Metropolitan Government recently signed an agreement with the K-Medical Tourism Association to expand the coordinator workforce and improve training. These coordinators assist foreign patients with medical interpretation, consultations, and guidance throughout the treatment process.

The expanded program will support a wide range of languages, including English, Chinese, and Japanese, as well as growing demand for Russian and Arabic interpretation.

Seoul also plans to launch a medical tourism integrated platform that will provide one-stop access to hospital information, visa assistance, accommodation, and tourism services.

In addition, the city will designate “medical-friendly” accommodations near major hospitals to support long-term stays.