Korean pharmacies, renowned for their high-quality yet affordable products, have become must-visit destinations for foreign tourists interested in skincare. They are also increasingly favored by consumers seeking gentle, clinically tested formulations that address acne, pigmentation and post-procedure recovery.
Foreigners’ medical spending in Korea has seen a sharp rise in recent years. According to the Korea Tourism Data Lab, the number of medical transactions by international visitors jumped nearly fivefold — from 593,577 in 2020 to 2,929,831 in 2024. In August alone, over 309,000 cases were recorded.
Pharmacies accounted for the largest share of this spending, making up nearly 59 percent of all foreign medical consumption in the first half of the year, followed by dermatology clinics at 22 percent. The total amount spent at pharmacies during this period also surpassed 60 billion won ($43 million).
Reflecting this trend, online travel platform Creatrip recently added a pharmacy category, joining hands with recommended pharmacies across Seoul and Busan that offer foreign tourists in-store consultations with licensed pharmacists, along with language support in English, Chinese and Japanese.
“Pharmacies have become more popular recently following the surge of social media content featuring shopping vlogs and must-buy item recommendations,” Creatrip CEO Yim Hae-min said. “This phenomenon has naturally led to the emergence of ‘K-pharmacy tours’ among tourists.”
The “#Koreaglowup” is trending across social media, with users sharing skincare routines, preventive care tips and daily self-care habits centered around Korean products. Adding to the buzz are vlogs documenting visits to Korean pharmacies, along with must-buy item recommendations from both pharmacists and foreign tourists.
Shelves in a Seoul pharmacy are stocked with skincare products, Oct. 2. Korea Times photo by Kwak Yeon-soo
Here are some of most-recommended K-pharmacy products:
1. Madecassol Care
Madecassol Care is best for accelerating the healing of open wounds, including cuts, burns, and post-surgical sites. Its Centella Asiatica (cica) extract soothes inflammation and promotes rapid skin regeneration, making it highly effective for both wound healing and scar prevention. Consistent use also helps maintain a healthy skin barrier and reduces redness or irritation in sensitive and damaged skin.
2. Acnon Cream
Acnon Cream is best for spot-treating red, inflamed pimples and pustular acne. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredients, ibuprofen-piconol and isopropyl methylphenol, help reduce redness while fighting acne-causing bacteria for clearer, healthier skin. It is particularly suited for managing sudden flare-ups of painful, swollen pimples rather than persistent comedonal or whitehead-type acne.
3. Noscarna Gel
Noscarna Gel is best for fading acne scars, surgical scars, and keloid scars by softening, flattening, and lightening scar tissue. Its combination of heparin, sodium, allantoin, and dexpanthenol promotes skin healing, reduces scar formation, and improves moisture retention for smoother, healthier skin. With consistent use, it helps restore the skin’s texture and appearance, making scars less visible over time.
4. Melatoning Cream
Melatoning Cream is best for brightening discolored skin and evening out overall skin tone. It effectively fades hyperpigmentation, such as sun spots, and post-acne marks. Consistent use helps restore a more radiant and uniform complexion by targeting both dark spots and underlying discoloration.
5. Rejuvenex Cream (PDRN)
Rejuvenex Cream is best for strengthening the skin barrier and accelerating skin regeneration thanks to its polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) content derived from salmon DNA. It excels at soothing redness and blemishes while brightening and evening out the complexion. This cream is an excellent choice for overnight renewal, post-procedure recovery, and caring for sensitive, dry, or aging skin.
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