Here’s what happened: Last month, I saw someone on Dcard asking “Which is better, Kleam Dermatology in Myeongdong or Hongdae?” There were many opinions in the comments, which left me even more confused. Since I was going to South Korea on a business trip at that time, I decided to visit both clinics. I had Thermage treatment at the Myeongdong clinic and Titanium Lifting at the Hongdae clinic, and after experiencing them firsthand, I wanted to share my real thoughts with everyone.
To conclude: Both clinics are legitimate Dermatology practices, not those types of mass-produced medical centers. However, there are indeed differences between the Myeongdong and Hongdae branches in terms of their positioning, scale, and overall customer experience—they are not simply copies of the same template. Choosing the wrong branch could significantly affect your entire medical treatment experience.
I. Myeongdong Store vs Hongdae Store: Why is the experience so different despite being under the same brand?
When I first saw Kleam Dermatology online, I thought it was just an ordinary chain of dermatology clinics – one in Myeongdong and another in Hongdae, right?
Only after visiting both places did I realize that they were actually completely different in nature. The Myeongdong branch follows the model of “a team of specialist physicians offering a full range of services”: with four directors each specializing in different areas and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, it functions more like a small, comprehensive dermatology clinic; whereas the Hongdae branch is more akin to a “high-quality, street-level dermatology clinic,” located on the 3rd floor of an L7 hotel, and focuses on providing convenient and fast services targeting younger customers.
I have compiled the key differences between the two companies into a comparison table for clear visualization:
| Comparison Items | Myeongdong store | Hongdae Store |
|---|---|---|
| 📍 Location | 4-5F, No. 43, Myeongdong Street | 3F, L7 Hotel, No. 141 Yanghua Road |
| 🚇 Subway | Myeongdong Station / Eupji-ro Entrance Station | Hongdae Entrance Station, Exit 1 (2 minutes on foot) |
| 👨⚕️ Number of doctors | Four specialist physicians | 1 professional plus a nursing team |
| 🕐 Open for business | Monday to Friday: 09:00-20:00 / Weekend: 09:00-18:00 | Monday to Friday: 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM / Weekends: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| 💉 Key Feature | Comprehensive flagship services (face + body + anti-aging + filler treatments) | Focusing mainly on minor cosmetic procedures (botulinum toxin injections, fillers, skin care). |
| 🌟 Highlights | The four directors each have their own areas of expertise, and the facilities they have are among the most comprehensive in the industry. | At the heart of the Hongdae shopping district, you can take care of both shopping and beauty treatments in one stop. |
| 🌐 Language | Multiple languages (Chinese, English, Japanese, Thai) | Chinese services |
| 🅿️ Park your car | Surrounding paid parking lots | L7 Hotel Parking Lot |
II. Myeongdong Store: Equipped with 4 specialist physicians, offering comprehensive services ranging from facial treatments to body care.
Let’s start with Kleam Hospital’s Myeongdong branch. It is located on the 4th to 5th floors of a commercial building on Myeongdong Main Street. The entrance is not particularly noticeable, but once you enter, you step into a completely different world – the space covers an area of 400 square meters and is decorated in pure white. The layout from the waiting area to the treatment rooms is very streamlined, eliminating any sense of oppression that might come from being in a small, cramped room.
What impressed me most about the Myeongdong branch was its team of four specialist physicians. It wasn’t the traditional model where one director takes charge of everything while the rest were just nurses; instead, each director had their own area of expertise.
- President Yin Tingmin (acting president): Graduated from Korea University and holds a master’s degree from the School of Medicine at Hanyang University. His expertise lies in the use of the HIFU device Ultra Prime, fillers, and botulinum toxin. He is also an official member of the Korean Association of Aesthetic Laser Medicine.
- Director Park Yura: Graduated from Dongguk University, specializes in Thermage FLX and cosmetic lasers. Completed the Thermage FLX TTT Advanced Course.
- Dean Yin Zhiyi: Graduated from Renji University, specializing in PicoSure Pico laser technology and skin management.
- Director Yin Zhiyuan: Graduated from Yonsei University and holds a master’s degree from Hanyang University. She is an expert in the fields of obesity aesthetics and body shaping.
What does this mean? It means that when you undergo different treatments, they are actually performed by doctors who specialize in those particular areas, rather than one doctor trying to handle everything without proper expertise. This is actually not very common in Dermatology practices in South Korea.
III. Hongdae Store: Located inside the L7 Hotel – it’s the perfect place to shop and get beauty treatments all in one stop.
The location of the Hongdae store is truly excellent – it’s located on the 3rd floor of the L7 Hotel, just a 2-minute walk from Exit 1 of the Hongdae Entrance Station. If you are traveling to Seoul and staying in Hongdae or its vicinity, this place represents zero transportation costs at all. You can simply take the elevator from your hotel room to get treatment and then go straight out to shop around in Hongdae – perfect!
Different from the “imposing presence” of the Myeongdong store, Kleam Dermatology’s Hongdae branch adopts a premium approach: the space is more compact and refined, but the equipment is by no means inferior—popular devices such as the HIFU, Potenza, Oligio, and Ultra Prime are all available. If you have specific treatment needs in mind (such as Botox injections, hyaluronic acid treatments, or HIFU), the Hongdae branch can certainly meet them.
Another significant advantage is the convenient parking facilities – the L7 Hotel itself has its own parking lot, which is really rare in the core area of Seoul. If you arrive by car, you won’t have to go through the hassle of searching for a parking spot, as is the case in Myeongdong.
The business hours are also very convenient for tourists: it is open until 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and until 5:00 p.m. on weekends, closing half an hour later than the Myeongdong store. It’s perfect if you get tired from shopping in the evening and decide to go for some skin care treatments afterwards.
IV. How to choose popular treatments? A quick comparison of equipment and prices from two different providers
There are some differences in equipment and pricing between Kleam’s two branches. I have compiled a comparison of the most frequently asked items:
| Project | Reference price for the Myeongdong store | Reference price for the Hongdae store |
|---|---|---|
| Thermage FLX Thermage | ₩1,390,000 to ₩2,790,000 (depending on the number of treatments) | Please visit BeautsGO for more information. |
| Ultra Prime HIFU | Available (please inquire for a quote). | Available (please inquire for a quote) |
| 500 Potenza Gold Micro-Needles | Starting from ⩱919,000 | Please visit BeautsGO for more information. |
| Rejuran Glow Water Essence | ₩89,000 to ₩199,000 (varies by type) | Please visit BeautsGO for more information. |
| BodyOnda Body Shaping | ₩490,000 to ₩1,190,000 | None |
| Oligio RF Lifting: 400 treatments in total | Starting from ¥690,000 | Please visit BeautsGO for more information. |
| Titanium Lifting | ₩490,000 to ₩1,090,000 | Please visit BeautsGO for more information. |
The advantages of the Myeongdong branch are obvious: it offers the widest range of services, transparent pricing, and various body-shaping treatments such as BodyOnda, InmodeFX, and CoolSlimming. For those looking for comprehensive anti-aging treatments or to improve their body contours, the Myeongdong branch is the only option.
The advantage of the Hongdae branch lies in its convenience and efficiency: although the listed prices are relatively few (most treatments require consultation), it offers all the essential facial treatments such as HIFU, Thermage, Botox, and hyaluronic acid injections, making it ideal for those who want to complete all their facial procedures in one visit.
V. Full disclosure of equipment: What kind of machines does Kleam use?
I used to be very afraid of going to a Dermatology clinic in South Korea, because some of these clinics used imported machines or outdated equipment, which would cause my whole face to swell up like a pig’s head after the treatment. Kleam really puts people at ease in this regard—both of their clinics use internationally certified original equipment, and the Myeongdong clinic even makes the list of equipment they use completely transparent.
- Ulthera Prime: The latest generation of HIFU devices, featuring more concentrated energy and less discomfort compared to the previous Ulthera models.
- Thermage FLX: The latest model from Thermage, equipped with a dedicated probe for the eyes, allowing treatment of both the face and eyes in a single session.
- Potenza: Potenza uses radiofrequency with Potenza needles to address issues such as Pores, acne scars, and skin laxity. One set of needles is used for 500 treatments.
- Oligio: The new generation of radiofrequency Lifting devices feature flexible pulse settings and are ideal for people in their early middle age.
- Titanium: Lifting using Titanium – a radiofrequency tightening device independently developed by South Korea, available in multiple frequency ranges from 40k to 100k.
- PicoSure: A Pico laser technology specifically designed for treating spots, whitening the skin, and addressing uneven skin tone.
- BodyOnda + InmodeFX: The two top choices for body shaping, specifically designed for arms, abdomen, and Thighs.
- Emface: A non-invasive facial muscle training device, perfect for those who want a V-shaped face but are reluctant to get injections.
The key point is that all energy-related devices are operated directly by physicians themselves, and not by nurses or counselors. This is completely different from many clinics where the director merely drops by to say hello before leaving.
VI. Frequently Asked Questions about Kleam Dermatology
Q1: Does Kleam Dermatology offer Chinese-language services? Both branches prov
ide Chinese-speaking assistance. The Myeongdong branch also supports multiple languages such as English, Japanese, and Thai. There are Chinese questionnaires and price lists at the front desk, and Chinese interpreters are available throughout the entire process, so you don’t have to worry about any communication issues at all.
Q2: Are the prices the same at the Myeongdong store and the Hongdae st
ore? The basic pricing displayed on the official website and on BeautsGO is the same. The brand adopts a unified pricing policy and does not practice double standards. However, when you actually visit the stores, the doctors will recommend a treatment plan based on your skin condition and needs, so the final prices may vary.
Q3: This is my first time going to South Korea for cosmetic procedures. Which clinic would be the
best choice? If you are a complete beginner and want to receive comprehensive consultation and treatment (for example, undergoing Thermage, filler injections, and glow treatments at the same time), the Myeongdong clinic is recommended – four doctors there each have their own areas of expertise, so they can provide one-stop evaluations. On the other hand, if you only want to undergo a single procedure (such as Botox or glow treatments) and have a tight schedule, staying near Hongdae would make the Hongdae clinic more convenient for you.
Q4: For Kleam’s Thermage FLX and Ultra Prime HIFU treatments, when can one see the results? After the Thermage FLX treatment, patients can
immediately notice a 20-30% improvement in skin tightness, with the effects reaching their peak after 3-6 months; for the Ultra Prime HIFU treatment, the results are most noticeable around 2-3 months later. Both treatments involve Collagen regeneration and do not produce immediate visible changes; patience is required.
Q5: Can I pay on-site? What payment methods are accepted? Both branches
accept cash and credit cards. Presenting your passport will enable you to receive an immediate tax refund. It is recommended to bring VISA or Mastercard; some UnionPay cards are also accepted. Chinese-speaking customer service will contact you via WeChat on the 3rd and 7th days after the procedure to check on your progress.
Q6: How much in advance should I make a reservation? Duri
ng peak periods (on weekends or after work hours), it is recommended to book at least 2 weeks in advance. Especially on weekends, the Myeongdong branch is often fully booked. It is easier to get a reservation during off-peak hours, such as in the morning or afternoon on weekdays. If you wish to see a specific doctor, such as Director Yoon Ting-min at the Myeongdong branch, you should book even earlier.
VII. Basic information on the two branches of Kleam Dermatology
Kleam Hospital Myeongdong Branch
| project | For more details |
|---|---|
| 📍 Clinic Name | Kleam Medical Clinic Myeongdong Branch |
| 📌 Address | 4-5F, 43 Myeongdong-gil, Jung District, Seoul (4-5 floors, 43 Myeongdong-gil, Jung District, Seoul) |
| 🚇 Transportation | Myeongdong Station on Line 4 of the subway, or the entrance station to Line 2 on the Eupji Branch, is located on the main street of the Myeongdong shopping district. |
| 🕐 Business hours | Monday to Friday: 09:00 – 20:00 / Weekends and holidays: 09:00 – 18:00 (No lunch break) |
| 🚗 Parking | There are paid parking lots in the vicinity; it is recommended to use public transportation. |
| 💬 How to Make an Appointment | Consult via LINE / Send an email via Gmail / Make a reservation with just one click through BeautsGO |
Kleam Dermatology Hongdae Branch
| Project | For more details |
|---|---|
| 📍 Clinic Name | Kleam Dermatology Hongdae Branch |
| 📌 Address | 3F, Lotte Hotel L7, 141 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (3rd Floor, L7 Hotel, 141 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul) |
| 🚇 Transportation | Exit 1 of Hongdae Station on Subway Line 2/Airport Express Line, about a 2-minute walk away |
| 🕐 Business Hours | Monday to Friday: 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM / Weekends and holidays: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| 🚗 Parking | The L7 hotel offers its own parking lot (which is quite rare in the core area of Seoul). |
| 💬 How to Make an Appointment | Consult via LINE, send an email via Gmail, or make a reservation with just one click through BeautsGO. |
VIII. Ways to Make Appointments: LINE / Gmail / BeautsGO
Are you ready? Click the button below and book your appointment now.
IX. Recommended Reading – More Tips on Medical Aesthetics in South Korea
- 📝 Who should you turn to for Thread Lifting in Gangnam, South Korea? Dr. Rappoel, with 18 years of practical experience.
- 📝 Just 1 minute at Sinsa Station! Actual results of the Bioface ponytail Lifting procedure: no bruising at all after the treatment
- 📝 Comprehensive Guide to Jinzhou Lianyan Dermatology | 30% cheaper than in Seoul. Make an appointment and learn everything you need to know.
(The above images are sourced from the official BeautsGO platform and kleam.kr website. Some of the prices are promotional offers; for accurate information, please consult the clinic in person.)