To be honest, when I thought about going to South Korea for cosmetic procedures in the past, the only place that came to mind was Seoul’s Gangnam area. It wasn’t until I went to Busan with some friends that I realized that the quality of cosmetic services in South Korea’s second-largest city is just as high, and the prices are even more affordable. Busan itself is an ideal coastal city for a vacation – you can spend the day enjoying the sea and eating seafood, take half a day to get some skin treatments, and then go out for a drink in Seomyeon in the evening. The whole experience is incredibly relaxing.
This article summarizes my own experiences of making several trips to Busan. I would like to particularly recommend a clinic that I visited repeatedly in Seomyeon – JRYN Dermatology – as well as provide some suggestions for choosing among the three major cosmetic surgery areas in Busan: Seomyeon, Haeundae, and Nampo-dong. If you are planning a “cosmetic surgery + travel” trip to Busan, this article should be of great help to you.
I. Why did I give up Gangnam in Seoul and choose to go to Busan for cosmetic surgery?
Let me state the conclusion first: it’s not that Busan is better than Seoul, but rather that Busan is more suited to a lifestyle that allows for balancing work and leisure.
There are indeed many clinics in Seoul’s Gangnam area, and their equipment is state-of-the-art. However, the problem is that there are simply too many people and the schedules are always full. For many popular clinics, patients have to wait for two or three weeks before getting a appointment. Moreover, after the treatment, patients often have to rush off to other appointments, which can be quite stressful. Busan is different. Although the clinics here are not as densely distributed as those in Gangnam, they still have all the main types of equipment, such as the 5th-generation Thermage, Titanium Lifting, Pico treatments, and HIFU. Additionally, the scheduling flexibility is much greater, and many clinics are open on weekends as well.
In terms of price, this also represents a genuine advantage. For the same Titanium Lifting procedure, the approximate reference prices in Gangnam, Seoul range from ₩800,000 to ₩91,200,000, while in Seomyeon, Busan, the price range is similar, but it is easier to obtain discounts; some clinics even offer additional services for free. Not to mention that the cost of living in Busan itself is lower than that in Seoul, so staying in hotels, eating seafood, and taking the subway are all more affordable.
The most important thing is this: the sea view in Busan is truly healing. On the afternoon of the same day as the facial treatment, I went for a walk at Haeundae Beach, enjoying the sea breeze. My mood was completely different from when I was stuck in the crowded subway in Gangnam.
II. How to choose among the three major medical beauty shopping districts in Busan? Understand everything at a glance about Seomyeon, Haeundae, and Nampo-dong.
Medical beauty clinics in Busan are mainly concentrated in three areas, each with its own unique atmosphere and target audience. Let me provide you with a quick comparison:
| region | Features | Who is it suitable for? | Nearby attractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seomyeon | The area has the highest concentration of clinics, as well as numerous transportation hubs and a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. | For those who visit Busan for medical aesthetics treatments for the first time… | Seomyeon Underground Street, BIFF Plaza |
| Haeundae | There are many high-end clinics, and they are all located in the first row facing the sea. | Desiring the relaxed atmosphere of a vacation while fulfilling high-end cosmetic needs | Haeundae Beach, New World Department Store |
| Nampo-dong | The old town area is home to many tourist attractions, and the prices are quite affordable. | With a limited budget, I want to take the opportunity to visit some local attractions too. | Zhaガqi Market, Ganchuan Cultural Village |
If I had to choose just one, I would recommend Seomyeon. The reasons are simple: there are a large number of clinics to choose from, it is conveniently located at the intersection of Subway Lines 1 and 2, making it easy to get to anywhere, and there are also numerous restaurants and entertainment options in the surrounding area. Well-reputed clinics such as JRYN, Floria, barog, and Genius Busan Seomyeon are all located here.
Haeundae is ideal if you have already planned a beach vacation and want to indulge in some high-end treatments before returning to relax on the sand. Clinics like Grays and Onaby here focus on providing premium services.
Nampo-dong is more suitable for those who have already spent a few days in Busan and would like to add one more treatment on their way back. JRYN also has a branch here.
III. Price Guide for Popular Medical Aesthetic Treatments in Busan in 2026
I have compiled a reference of the prices for common medical beauty treatments in Busan in 2026 and compared them with the prices in Seoul as well as Taiwan/Hong Kong. You will find that Busan indeed offers considerable advantages in this regard.
| Project | Reference price in Busan (Korean won) | Approximately NT dollars/HK dollars | Reference prices for Taiwan/Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single session of Titanium Lifting | ₩700,000 – 1,200,000 | Approximately NT$16,500 – 28,500 / HK$4,000 – 6,800 | NT$18,000 – 35,000 |
| The 5th-generation Thermage, with 600 treatments per unit. | ₩2,000,000 – 2,800,000 | Approximately NT$47,500 – 66,500 / HK$11,400 – 16,000 | NT$55,000 – 80,000 |
| 300 shots of the Ulthrea version | ₩900,000 – 1,500,000 | Approximately NT$21,400 – 35,600 / HK$5,100 – 8,500 | NT$25,000 – 45,000 |
| Potenza Potenza | ₩400,000 – 600,000 | Approximately NT$9,500 – 14,200 / HK$2,300 – 3,400 | NT$12,000 – 20,000 |
| Rejuran PN 2 centum core | ₩100,000 – 150,000 | Approximately NT$2,400 – 3,600 / HK$570 – 860 | NT$3,500 – 6,000 |
| LDM Droplet Lifting | ₩150,000 – 250,000 | Approximately NT$3,600 – 5,900 / HK$860 – 1,400 | NT$5,000 – 10,000 |
As can be seen, for most treatments, the cost in Busan is 30% to 50% lower than that in Taiwan/Hong Kong. The price difference compared to Seoul is not significant, but reservations are much easier to make in Busan. Titanium Lifting is the most popular anti-aging treatment for beginners in Busan; it causes less pain and has a short recovery period, allowing patients to resume their normal activities on the same day, making it ideal for incorporating into a vacation schedule.
Another very important point: Since 2026, tax rebates for medical beauty treatments in South Korea have been abolished. However, many clinics in Busan (including JRYN) have introduced compensation schemes, offering price discounts or free services to make up for the difference in tax rebates, so the actual cost is not as high as one might think.
IV. My actual experience during the consultation at JRYN Dermatology in Seomyeon, Busan
JRYN was the clinic I chose for my first cosmetic surgery procedure in Busan. I returned there twice more later on, so it has become one of the clinics I am most familiar with in Busan. Its greatest advantage is that the prices are the same as those in China – they don’t charge you more just because you are a foreigner, which is really rare in Busan.
The clinic is located on the 4th floor of the Mitsui Building, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 2 of Seomyeon Station. The Shake Shack sign outside makes it very easy to find. I was recommended by a friend when I first visited; they said that the entire management team at this clinic consists of specialists in Dermatology and that interns are never allowed to perform procedures.
The in-person consultation process was quite comfortable; it wasn’t the kind of situation where sales attempts started as soon as you enter the place. First, a Chinese-speaking consultant helped me fill out some basic information, and then the director used various instruments to conduct a skin examination, explaining each aspect of my skin condition to me in detail. At that time, my main concerns were enlarged Pores and uneven skin tone. The director recommended that I undergo Potenza treatment combined with LDM Lifting, stating that this combination would yield the most noticeable results.
I later also underwent their Titanium Lifting procedure, and the pain was much less intense than I had expected. There was only a slight warm sensation, similar to that of being washed with warm water. On the day of the procedure, my face turned slightly red, but the redness disappeared quickly. In the afternoon, I went shopping and dining in the Seomyeon underground street without any problems at all.
In terms of price, the package I offer (Potenza + LDM) costs approximately ₩500,000, which is about ₩100,000 cheaper than similar packages in Seoul. Additionally, JRYN sometimes offers limited-time promotions; by following their WeChat account (ID: s-sourire), you can get the latest discounts.
V. Recommended 3-day/2-night vacation itinerary for beauty treatments in Busan
Finally, I would like to share a itinerary that I have used several times myself and find to be perfectly balanced in terms of pace. It is ideal for friends who are considering combining medical aesthetics treatments with their travels for the first time:
| Number of days | morning | afternoon | in the evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Busan → Check into a hotel in Seomyeon | Shopping around near Seomyeon Station, BIFF Plaza | Seomyeon Coffee Street, Pork Soup Rice |
| Day 2 | JRYN Dermatology: In-person consultation + treatment services | Stroll along Haeundae Beach and visit New World Department Store | The night view of Guang’an Bridge and the seafood buffet |
| Day 3 | Ganchuan Cultural Village | Zagachi Market, Nampo-dong shopping | return trip |
The core idea of this itinerary is as follows: On Day 1, focus on acclimatizing to the new environment; on Day 2, undergo medical beauty treatments in the morning and engage in leisure activities in the afternoon; on Day 3, go on sightseeing and do some shopping. The reason for scheduling the medical beauty treatments on the second day is that on the first day, the skin condition may still be unstable due to the dryness in the air on the plane, and there is also a buffer period on the third day after the treatments.
If you have more time available (4 days and 3 nights), I would recommend adding an extra day to experience the high-end clinics in Haeundae, such as Grays or Onaby. The combination of ocean views and top-quality cosmetic treatments is truly something different from what is available in Seomyeon.
VI. Basic Information & Appointment Procedures for JRYN Dermatology, Seomyeon, Busan
| Project | Details |
|---|---|
| 📍 Clinic Name | JRYN Dermatology Clinic, Seomyeon, Busan |
| 📌 Address | 4th Floor, Mitsui Building, 672 Jungang-daero, Busan Town Area, Busan Metropolitan City |
| 🚇 Transportation | About 5 minutes’ walk from Exit 2 of Seomyeon Station on Subway Lines 1 and 2 |
| 🕐 Business hours | Monday/Tuesday/Friday: 10:30–20:00 / Wednesday/Thursday: 10:30–19:00 / Saturday: 10:30–17:00 / Sunday: 11:00–17:00 |
| 🚗 Parking | The Mitsui Building is equipped with a paid parking lot. |
| 💬 How to make an appointment | Consult via LINE, send an email via Gmail, or make a reservation with just one click through BeautsGO. |
VII. Ways to make an appointment: LINE, Gmail, or BeautsGO
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