First skin treatment in Seoul, no Korean: how do you avoid the big upsell?

Someone on the Tripadvisor Seoul forum was flying in for a wedding and wanted a "glass facial" for the first time. They don't speak Korean and had found very mixed Google reviews for med spas, so they asked who had actually done treatments in Seoul recently.

What the replies said

• One visitor had a facial at a Gangnam clinic and said staff managed fine with translation apps. Their tip: book ahead, weekends fill up.

• Several people said they had heard some clinics charge foreigners far more, and swapped research privately.

• The most detailed reply walked through one visit: a skin scan with a manager, about five minutes with the doctor, then a plan shown on a screen that staff would not print before payment. The quote for pigmentation and tightening topped US$8,000. The poster felt pressured and still paid around US$1,400 for smaller items they later regretted.

• Their lesson, which others agreed with: choose a place that shows prices openly and has real interpretation.

Desk note Korea's Medical Service Act (Article 45) says medical institutions must notify patients of the cost of treatments not covered by national insurance, and may not charge more than the amount they notified. Asking for an itemised price before you agree is normal. A consultation is not a commitment; you can leave and decide later.

Have you ever been offered a much bigger plan than the treatment you came in for? What did you do?

Original thread: Tripadvisor Seoul forum — first treatment in Seoul without Korean · Reference: Medical Service Act, Art. 45 (KLRI)

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