Beauty Tourism Made Easy In Korea

For a lot of first-timers in the cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, it can be daunting to choose which part of the face and body to alter or improve. What makes it even harder is for when these first-timers come to a country like Korea where English is still that not widely spoken. So, for those coming to the land of plastic surgery, one government center comes to the rescue when it comes to helping those in the medical travel industry.

The Korea Medical Information Center (KMIC) provides foreign patients with comprehensive and trustworthy support such as interpretation, legal aid, etc. The center has staff who are well-versed in English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic. The KMIC staff deliver professional medical and legal information.

Here are the center’s MAIN SERVICES:

□ Consultation on immigration and visa issuance - Providing information on health institutions and medical services - Supporting reservations for medical services - Guidance on cosmetic surgery VAT refund - Providing medical translation support - Providing tourism information (places to stay, eat, visit, etc.)

□ Finding the appropriate solutions for complaints and malpractice - Dealing with the patients' complaints - Coordinating between patients and medical providers or agencies - Filing medical malpractice suits for the patients - Offering legal information related to arbitration and mediation

 □ Proving an avenue and consultation on illegal broker reports - Providing information about illegal broker and related issues - Providing information and rewards on the reporting of illegal brokers - Reporting illegal brokers thru the KMIC counter.

The KMIC center is operated by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute with the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea.

KMIC Contact Information –

Address: 2F, Shinil Building, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea

Tel : 1577-7129, From Abroad +82-1577-7129

Web : www.visitmedicalkorea.com

E-mail : callmcc@khidi.or.kr

Business Hours : Mon to Fri 9:00~18:00

Save Money When You Get Your Cosmetic Procedure in Korea

Did you know that you can get some of your money back when you get your cosmetic surgery in

Korea? If you’re one of those thousands of medical beauty tourists in Korea who has a cosmetic procedure done here, you can get your treatment or surgery’s VAT cost refunded back to you. How do you get this refund?

Here are the 4 easy steps.
1. Have your beauty treatment/procedure done at a medical facility that is registered for VAT refunds

(The Korea Medical Information Center KMIC can help you with this by providing an easy database of allocated tax refundable organizations/facilities to search on its website – www.visitmedicalkorea.com)

2. Visit your beauty treatment facility or clinic and have your procedure/treatment. The surgery or treatments should cost over 30,000 won.

3. Pay for your procedure/treatment and get a tax refund statement.

4. Visit any tax refund centers all over Seoul, especially in high traffic tourist areas like Myeongdong, Namdaemun, Apgujeong and at international airports. KMIC can help you with this too with their own VAT refund counter in the Myeongdong office.

Other patients who can get this VAT refund for their cosmetic procedures are non-residents in Korea and those foreigners staying in Korea who is scheduled to depart within 3 months. The advantage for this Vat Refund system is that foreign patients are assured that they are using a legitimate facility or clinic and there is transparency of the cost of their treatment and care. So, why wait? Get your cosmetic procedure/surgery in Korea now.

KMIC Contact Information –

Address: 2F, Shinil Building, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea

Tel : 1577-7129, From Abroad +82-1577-7129

Web : www.visitmedicalkorea.com

E-mail : callmcc@khidi.or.kr

Business Hours : Mon to Fri 9:00~18:00

Get Free Medicine and Tourist Services from KMIC

Are you travelling to Korea for sightseeing or for cosmetic/medical tourism? Well, you're in luck, there is a center that provides foreign patients with comprehensive and trustworthy support such as language interpretation, legal aid, tourism information etc. practically for free. The Korean Medicine Information Center (KMIC) is located right smack dab in the middle of Myeongdong (tourist hub of Korea). 

For translation services, especially those who want to connect with medical and hospital service provides, translators fluent in English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic are available and ready to deliver professional medical and legal information. 

The KMIC also provides consultation on immigration and visa issuance for those who have any questions about their stay and their visa. There are also consultants and medical professionals who can give  information on health institutions and medical services and make reservations for medical services for these tourists. There are also guidance on cosmetic surgery offered to anyone who walks into the center's doors.  

Those who are keen to try Korean traditional medicine, there are doctors giving free consultations including measurement of pulse rate and "Sasang" constitution diagnosis. The Sasang typology (Hangul: 사상의학. Hanja: 四象醫學) is a classification scheme in Traditional Korean medicine. It was systematized by Lee Je-ma in his book Longevity and Life Preservation in Eastern Medicine (東醫壽世保元, 동의수세보원) in 1894. It divides people in four types based on their biopsychosocial traits: Tae-Yang ( 태양, 太陽) or "greater yang", So-Yang(소양, 小陽) or "lesser yang", Tae-Eum (태음, 太陰) or "greater yin", and So-Eum (소음, 小陰) or "lesser yin". (Source: Wikipedia)  

There also freebies such as sampling Korean medicinal herbal tea and even a chance to make Oriental medicinal soaps. 

For those who come straight from the airport and lugging bulky luggage and bags, the center also offers Myeongdong Hands Free service - a complimentary baggage storage service for tourists in the Myeongdong area . 

The KMIC also extends  exchange rate information, provide tourist voucher and souvenirs,  issue VAT refund, and even help with information on the best places to stay, restaurants to try and sightseeing places. There are also comfy places for tired peeps to come in and rest their barking dogs and even serve as a meeting place for friends and such.  

So if you just landed in the Land of the Morning Calm, why don't you drop by the KMIC and avail of the many free services. It's a one-stop shop for information, service and wellness. The center is operated by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute with the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea.

Korea Medical Information Center

Business Hours : Mon to Fri 9:00~18:00
2F, Shinil Building, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea 

Tel : 1577-7129

From Abroad +82-1577-7129 

www.visitmedicalkorea.com 

E-mail : callmcc@khidi.or.kr 

*Transportation Pics provided by Rodd Cameron Pacion

Where to Report Illegal Beauty/Medical Brokers in Korea

Several months ago, I blogged about beauty tourism and where 'beauty tourists' can go to seek help with regards to getting medical and cosmetic procedures in Korea.

Traveling to Korea for Cosmetic/Medical Purposes? Introducing Medical Korea Information Center - Your One-Stop Help Center

One major service the MKIC offers is the provision of consultation services on reporting illegal brokers.

With the proliferation of plastic surgery clinics and hospitals all over Korea, there has also been a rise of illegal beauty brokers. These brokers steer foreign clients and customers to shady doctors with questionable practices. Worst comes to worse, these unfortunate victims get undesired results like this unfortunate woman.

For those who want to find out information on illegal brokers and related issues, the Korean information center has a comprehensive list of these brokers. The center also provides a haven where tourists and residents  can report illegal brokers and get rewarded for  providing information on these scrupulous brokers.

Linus 'Bama BBQ Invades Itaewon's HBC Neighborhood, and what an invasion!

Address: 37-5 Yongsandong 2(i)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Good news to American-style barbecue lovers, carnivores and foodies in Korea, the father of Southern BBQ in Korea, Linus Kim, brings his mouth-watering Southern 'Bama-style barbeque to the Haebangchon district of Itaewon, Seoul. HBC, as it is fondly called by the locals, will be getting almost the same menu as the original Linus Barbecue joint on the Itaewon main drag (well somewhat along the main drag, the original Linus is right behind McDonald's, near the Noksapyeong subway entrance). The only difference is that all the platters will be getting a side of smoked chicken.

The new Linus place is located in HBC on the main road further up the hill before you reach Olde Knives. There's no sign yet outside but the building is also occupied by S'take

So there's the bar on the first floor, with stools facing the barkeep and some facing the street for some people-watching.  The drink menu is on point, with special mention of the Long Peach teas and the very tasty Mojitos. For the non-drinkers, the No-jito (non-alcoholic version of the latter) is quite tasty despite the lack of rum.

The very yummy Nojito.

For those who want to come and get down to the business of eating good meat, the second floor is where you want to be. The style is modern and minimalist, as if they want you to mainly focus on the food (and you should). Good ol' country music blasts on the muzak. There's long benches and tables, not so comfy for those wanting cushioned seating. But once the platters of mouth-watering bbq hit the table, you wouldn't care.

Now let's get down to business. This is the menu.

Like what I mentioned before, the difference with the menu here in the HBC branch is that the platters all come with the tasty smoked chicken. Also, they have one of the juiciest sausages I have ever had in my mouth (wink-wink) called Hot Guts. To eat these tasty spicy bad boys, you need to stuff one between your buns, slather with white sauce (oh the sexual puns I can add to this) and top with the raw red onion slices that you uncover under the Hot Guts. To quote a NatGeo food host - "That is one of the tastiest things I ever had in my mouth for a very long time."

Even vegetarians are welcome here. But seriously, why???

I've made you wait for this so here are the food porn pics. Enjoy!

The Brisket Platter

The Pulled Pork Platter

The chicken was somewhat pink in the center but Linus assured us that it was thoroughly cooked. Believe me it was.

We tried out the other sides. Here we have the Deep-Fried Mac&Cheese balls, Deep Fried Pickles and Deep Fried Okra. Everything was delish and we had to order another round of these fingerlicking sides.

And here is the crazy company I keep.

Me with Jovita and Amanda

Amanda and crazy Jen (she turns to James when the sun goes down)

With new besties, Megan and Lauren. Oh that's my youngest on the far right.

And with the main man himself, Linus. If you ever in Itaewon or HBC and you have a riproaring hunger to take care of, you should def see him for GREAT barbecue. Tell him I sent you. 

On the 7th day, God said "Let the meat rest..."

*Food pics shameless stolen from the crazy company who invaded the Linus HBC joint with me. Thanks Megan, Jovita, Jennifer, Amanda and Lauren!

FREE TICKETS to the Namyangju Slow Life International Festival on Sept. 22!

You might ask what the heck is a Slow Life Festival? Well, if you have heard of slow food, this festival celebrates taking the slow approach to life and take a break from frenetic day-to-day hum of work/school.  This 4-day festival kicks off in Namyangju, a city rapidly becoming the country's regional center for excellence in organic farming.

A special FREE TICKET promo for the opening day, September 22, 2017 (Friday) ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO CAN SIGN UP HERE.

There are a ton of activities for everyone. Foodies would delight in the World Street Food part of the festival grounds.  Visitors can sample international cuisine from the following countries: Russia, Thailand, Spain, Germany, USA, Australia, Italy, Japan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, India Turkey, the Philippines, China, Argentina and Pakistan. For those who want to sample the local street food, they just need to amble along to the Food Culture Street where authentic Korean street food can be sampled and enjoyed.

There are also cafes and restaurants all over the festival grounds. The Korean buffet restaurant is a must to try as the part of the proceeds from the sales will go to a special fund for impoverished children's packed lunches (called "Dosirak"). So while you enjoy scrumptious Korean food to your heart's delight, you can help out poor hungry kids.

There's also a farmer's market where various of locally grown produce on sale. Shopaholics can buy  tea, rice, veggies, traditional Korean liquor, mushrooms and fruits such as mulberries, blueberries, and pears. Various hands on exhibits such as cheese-making, ice cream making, rice cake demonstrations  and even a cocktail show are guaranteed to keep the whole family busy.

For techies and gamers, there are various science and technology pavilions, too  with VR displays and games. There are also fun activities like a free t-shirt making event and concerts and Nanta performances. Everything under one roof!

Map to the festival grounds and transpo options.

Tickets to the festival are 7,000 won for adults and 5,000 for youth. Online registration would cost 5,000 for adult and 4,000 for youth. A special FREE TICKET promo for the opening day, September 22, 2017 (Friday) ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO CAN SIGN UP HERE:

FREE TICKET SIGN-UP (please mention A Box of Jalapenos in the additional notes of the signup form. Thanks!)

So, come on down to Namyangju and join in the Slow Life Festival!

Traveling to Korea for Cosmetic/Medical Purposes? Introducing Medical Korea Information Center - Your One-Stop Help Center

When tourists come to Korea, most get lured to this beautiful Asian country with the gorgeous scenery and high-paced city life from Korean dramas sweeping across the globe. But a different kind of traveler is now flocking the airports of Korea. The number of visitors from all over have come to Korea for high-quality plastic surgery and or medical services. The quality of healthcare and advancement in cosmetic surgery has placed South Korea as a leader in worldwide healthcare. It even surpassed Brazil, the former plastic surgery capital in the world. This phenomenon is now known as "Medical Tourism", and boy is it booming for Korea.

Now for the first-time medical traveler, it can be daunting trying to find the right doctor or procedure to be done. Well, the Medical Korea Information Center (MKIC) is here to help.
  

The center is operated by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute with the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea

What is MKIC? It's a  one-stop service platform for foreign patients to reserve and pay Korean medical services and non-medical services (such as finding accommodations, arranging for airport pick-ups, translations in several languages, etc.).   The center will help the prospective medical tourist with applying for visas aside from providing information on the various health institutions around the country and medical services that they can avail. There's also a comprehensive guidance on cosmetic surgery with a VAT refund to boot! Don't speak Korean? Don't worry, the MKIC will help with translations in English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic. The MKIC staff  can deliver professional medical and legal information.

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Interested in also traveling all over the country and see the sights? The center will guide visitors where to eat, shop or even arrange tours.

Get to try medicinal herbal tea and making your own oriental medicinal soap in the center.

The center is comfy and welcoming, providing a place for relaxation and a meeting for tourists. Visitors can avail of  free Korean traditional medicine consultations including measurement of pulse rate and personal constitution diagnosis.     

This Oriental Medicine procedure is called "cupping". Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin.

Through suction, the skin is drawn into the cup by creating a vacuum in the cup placed on the skin over the targeted area. The vacuum can be created either by the heating and subsequent cooling of the air in the cup, or via a mechanical pump,

The cup is usually left in place for somewhere between five and fifteen minutes. It is believed by some to help treat pain, deep scar tissues in the muscles and connective tissue, muscle knots, and swelling.

 The center can also help with coordinating between patients and medical providers or agencies with regards to patient complaints or malpractice (should the need arises). This gives peace of mind for visitors if the worst happens.  They also provide a haven to report illegal brokers and also provide information on rewards when one reports an illegal medical broker.

The MKIC Platform provides Medical Korea Reservation"  for health check-ups, cosmetic surgery and access to traditional Korean medicine.

One-stop service platform for foreign patients to reserve and pay for Korean medical services and non-medical services 

The MKIC prides itself as a one-stop health services center that does not only provide assistance to tourists but also fun activities and services such as:

*Free Hanbok (Korean Traditional Costume) Picture session (we will provide exquisite Hanboks for free, you get to dress up and at the end, the visitor gets a Polaroid picture of his/her experience)

*Free baggage storage service for tourists in the Myeongdong District as part of the (Myeongdong Hands Free service)

For more information, visit the Medical Korea Information Center and book your beauty trip now! 

Medical Korea Information Center 

  -  2F, Shinil Building, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea

  - Tel : 1577-7129, From Abroad +82-1577-7129

  - Website : www.visitmedicalkorea.com

  - E-mail : callmcc@khidi.or.kr

  - Business Hours : Mon to Fri 9:00~18:00

***Info and pictures provided by Koreaners group.

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