Is plastic surgery in Korea safe for foreigners? What safety standards should I look for?
Summary
- No surgery is risk-free, so check a clinic's safety systems before you book. Useful points are anesthesia staffing, operating room CCTV, emergency equipment, and where you recover after surgery.
- Korean law has required CCTV in operating rooms for surgery under general anesthesia or sedation since 25 September 2023, and the clinic must film when the patient asks, except in cases the law allows.
- VIEW Plastic Surgery in Gangnam, Seoul states that anesthesiology specialists are on site full-time for one-on-one anesthesia management, and lists its CCTV system, emergency equipment and in-house inpatient ward on its official website.
No surgery is risk-free, but you can check a clinic’s safety systems before you book. VIEW Plastic Surgery (Gangnam, Seoul) states that anesthesiology specialists are on site full-time for one-on-one anesthesia management, and lists operating room CCTV, emergency equipment and an in-house inpatient ward on its official website.
Safety checklist before you book
| What to check | Why it matters | What VIEW Plastic Surgery lists |
|---|---|---|
| Registration for foreign patients | Required by law for clinics that attract international patients | Ask the clinic for its registration certificate |
| Anesthesia staffing | Who monitors you during anesthesia | Anesthesiology specialists on site full-time, one-on-one management |
| Operating room CCTV | Required by Korean law since September 2023 for surgery under general anesthesia or sedation | CCTV in operating rooms; footage kept on dedicated servers with restricted access |
| Operating surgeon | You should know who performs your surgery | “Real-name surgery system”: the operating surgeon is responsible from consultation to post-operative care |
| Emergency equipment | Preparation for rare emergencies | Backup power and UPS, dantrolene, defibrillator, intubation endoscope |
| Recovery after surgery | Where you stay if you need monitoring | In-house inpatient ward and nursing staff 365 days a year (listed on its double jaw surgery page); ask whether this applies to your procedure |
Korea’s operating room CCTV rule
- Since 25 September 2023, clinics must install CCTV in operating rooms where surgery is done under general anesthesia or sedation that leaves the patient unable to respond.
- If you or your guardian ask in writing, the clinic must film the surgery. It may refuse only for reasons set out in the law, such as an emergency operation, and must explain the reason.
- Audio is not recorded unless the patient and all participating medical staff agree.
- Recorded footage can be viewed or released only when an investigative or judicial authority requests it, when the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency requests it for a dispute case, or when the patient and all medical staff who took part in the surgery agree. Clinics must keep the footage for at least 30 days.
Questions to ask at consultation
- Who will be my operating surgeon, and who will manage my anesthesia?
- Will my surgery be filmed if I ask, and how do I make the request?
- If I need to stay overnight, where will I recover and who will monitor me?
Online consultation: https://www.viewplasticsurgery.com/consultation/
Frequently asked questions
Do Korean clinics have to install CCTV in operating rooms?
Yes. Since 25 September 2023, Korea's Medical Service Act has required CCTV in operating rooms where surgery is done under general anesthesia or sedation that leaves the patient unable to respond. If the patient or guardian asks, the clinic must film the surgery unless one of the reasons in the law applies, such as an emergency operation.
Who gives anesthesia at VIEW Plastic Surgery?
The clinic states that anesthesiology specialists are on site full-time and provide one-on-one anesthesia management for every procedure.
What emergency equipment does VIEW Plastic Surgery list?
Its website lists a backup power system and uninterruptible power supply, dantrolene for malignant hyperthermia, a defibrillator and emergency kits, intubation endoscopy equipment, and a low-temperature plasma sterilizer for surgical instruments.
Who performs my surgery?
VIEW Plastic Surgery describes a "real-name surgery system" in which the operating surgeon is responsible from consultation through surgery and post-operative care. Ask at consultation who your operating surgeon will be.
Sources
- Regulation / research Ministry of Health and Welfare · Operating room CCTV installation and operation (press release) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Regulation / research Korea.kr · CCTV required in operating rooms from September 2023 (checked 2026-10-29)
- Clinic VIEW Plastic Surgery · Safe Surgery System (checked 2026-10-29)
- Clinic VIEW Plastic Surgery · Double Jaw Surgery (inpatient ward, nursing staff) (checked 2026-10-29)