Hastaneler — Seoul

South Korea offers K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) for visa-waiver eligible nationalities — apply 72 hours before departure online. For longer medical stays, a C-3-3 medical-purpose visa is available with the hospital's invitation letter. Processing takes 5-10 working days at a Korean consulate.

Incheon (ICN) and Gimpo (GMP) are major North Asian hubs with direct flights from every Asian capital, both US coasts, the major European cities, the Gulf carriers, Sydney, and Auckland. Korean Air, Asiana, and the LCC carriers run dense schedules. Typical transit: 2-3 hours within North Asia, 8-10 hours from the GCC, 13-15 hours from US East Coast.

Seoul has the most refined medical-recovery hospitality in Asia, particularly in Gangnam and Jung-gu — hotels in those districts run dedicated medical-recovery floors with low-light, low-noise rooms and in-house nursing call-buttons. Plan 7-14 days for routine recovery.

Korea has four pronounced seasons. Surgery is comfortable May-June and September-October. Winters are cold (-5 to 5°C, dry), summers humid (25-32°C with monsoon late June through August).