Planning your treatment in Korea
Practical answers for patients traveling to Seoul — what decides the cost, which visa applies, and how care continues after you go home.
These guides explain how treatment at St. Luke’s Hospital is arranged for international patients. They are general information, not medical advice about your own knee. That comes from an orthopedic specialist after an examination.
How long you will stay in Seoul
How long should I plan to be in Korea?
Plan on about four weeks for CARTISTEM® and about two weeks for a bone marrow injection. These are the periods the orthopedic team works to. They cover the assessment before treatment, the procedure itself, and the early rehabilitation that follows while the team can still see you in person.
Why is CARTISTEM® longer?
CARTISTEM® is applied surgically during arthroscopy, so the knee needs a protected early recovery and supervised rehabilitation before you travel. A bone marrow injection is a shorter procedure, so the period the team wants to watch afterwards is shorter as well.
What happens during those weeks?
Examination by the orthopedic specialist, any imaging that is still needed, and the treatment plan confirmed with you before anything is scheduled.
The procedure itself, with inpatient care where it is needed. The team explains beforehand what recovery in the first days will involve.
Supervised rehabilitation at the hospital, and at least one review with the specialist before you fly home.
Can I make the stay shorter?
Part of the preparation can often be done before you arrive — that is what the medical review is for. When your imaging and reports have been reviewed in advance, less time is spent on assessment once you are here. The recovery period after treatment is decided clinically, not by the schedule.
When can I fly home?
The orthopedic team confirms this at your review before departure rather than fixing it in advance, because it depends on how the knee is settling. Long flights after a procedure on the leg call for care — moving regularly during the flight, keeping hydrated, and following whatever the team advises for your case. Where you can, book a ticket you are able to change.
Does the length of stay affect my visa?
It can. A two-week stay sits comfortably inside a short visit, and four weeks still fits within a 30-day visa-free entry for many nationalities — but with little margin if your dates move. If you are coming for CARTISTEM®, a medical visa is the safer choice. See the visa guide for which one applies and what the hospital issues for you.
Where should I stay?
Near the hospital is easiest, because rehabilitation sessions and reviews all take place there. St. Luke’s Hospital is one minute on foot from Exit 1 of Bulgwang Station, and the international patient team can suggest accommodation nearby. See getting to the hospital.
These are planning figures, not a promise about your own recovery. How long you need depends on your knee, and the orthopedic specialist confirms your schedule after an in-person assessment.
Visas for treatment in Korea
Do I need a visa to come for treatment?
Many nationalities can enter Korea without a visa for a short stay, which can be enough for a consultation or a short course of treatment. If your treatment is planned in advance, or if you may need to stay longer, a medical visa is the safer route. Entry rules differ by nationality, so confirm yours with the Korean embassy or consulate in your country.
Which medical visa applies to me?
Korea issues two. C-3-3 is a short-term medical visa for treatment lasting 90 days or less. G-1-10 covers treatment of 91 days or longer and is valid for one year with multiple entries. Both can also cover a spouse or child traveling with you as a carer.
What documents will I need?
- Passport and completed visa application
- Medical diagnosis or referral from your own doctor
- A document from the Korean hospital confirming your treatment appointment
- Evidence that you can cover treatment and living costs
- Family relationship documents, if a relative travels with you
What does St. Luke’s Hospital issue?
Once your treatment plan and dates are agreed, the international patient team issues the appointment confirmation the consulate asks for. The hospital can also apply for a certificate of visa issuance and provide an invitation letter, which shortens the process at the consulate.
When should I start the visa process?
As soon as your records have been reviewed and dates are agreed. Consulate processing times vary by country, and the appointment document can only be issued after the orthopedic specialist has confirmed what is planned — so sending your imaging is the first step, not the last.
Visa decisions rest with the Korean diplomatic mission handling your application. The hospital provides the supporting documents but cannot guarantee an outcome. Requirements change, so check the current rules for your nationality before you apply.
Official sources : Medical Korea — Medical Visa (Korea Health Industry Development Institute) · HiKorea (Korea Immigration Service) · Korea Visa Portal. Visa categories and requirements are set by the Korean government and can change. Confirm the current rules with the Korean embassy or consulate in your country before booking travel.
Getting to the hospital
How far is the hospital from Incheon Airport?
About 56 km. By car it takes roughly 50 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic. The hospital is in Eunpyeong-gu in the north-west of Seoul, on the same side of the city as the airport, so you do not need to cross the center.
How do I get there by subway?
- Board the Airport Railroad (AREX) at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 station
- Transfer to Line 6 at Digital Media City Station
- Get off at Bulgwang Station (Line 6)
- Leave by Exit 1 and walk straight for about one minute
Terminal 2 is on the same Airport Railroad line, so the route is the same from either terminal.
Taxi or subway?
The subway is straightforward and unaffected by traffic, and the walk from Bulgwang Station is only a minute. A taxi is easier if you are arriving with heavy luggage, traveling with family, or if your knee makes stairs and transfers uncomfortable — which is worth thinking about on the day you arrive and on the day you leave after treatment.
Can the hospital help me get here?
Tell the international patient team your arrival date, flight and terminal when your visit is being arranged. They can confirm the route in English, suggest accommodation near the hospital, and set your appointment time so that you are not traveling straight from a long flight if that is better for you.
Where exactly is the hospital?
St. Luke’s Hospital, 726 Tongil-ro, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul (03368). One minute on foot from Exit 1 of Bulgwang Station on Line 6.
Official sources : Incheon International Airport Corporation — Airport Railroad (AREX) guide · Seoul Metropolitan Government — Getting to Seoul from Incheon Airport. Journey times are typical and vary with traffic and train schedules.
After you fly home
Does care continue after I leave Korea?
Yes. The international patient team arranges online follow-up after you return home, so the orthopedic team can see how the knee is settling and answer questions without you flying back. The schedule is agreed with you before you leave.
How does the online follow-up work?
You are given a point of contact and a follow-up schedule in English. At each review you describe how the knee feels and what you are able to do, and you can share new imaging or reports from a doctor at home. The team replies with what to expect next and what to watch for.
Can I get my records in English?
Yes. The hospital issues English medical certificates and medical-record documents covering your diagnosis, the treatment carried out and the follow-up plan. Insurers and doctors at home normally ask for these, so tell the team what you need before you leave.
What about rehabilitation once I am home?
You leave with a rehabilitation plan you can hand to a physiotherapist near you. Recovery after joint treatment depends heavily on doing the exercises consistently, and the plan sets out which stage each exercise belongs to so that your local therapist can follow it.
When should I contact the team again?
At each agreed review point — and sooner if the knee becomes markedly more painful, swollen or warm, if you develop a fever, or if something changes that you were not told to expect. If you feel unwell and cannot reach the team quickly, see a doctor where you are first.
Follow-up at a distance supports your recovery; it does not replace an examination. If a new problem needs to be looked at, the team will tell you whether it should be assessed locally or in Seoul.
What treatment costs
Cost depends on the treatment plan, so we do not publish a price list. What decides the figure, what the hospital’s charges cover, and how insurance is handled are set out on the costs page.
Costs and paymentThis page is general planning information for international patients. Timing, documents and follow-up are confirmed for your own case after a records review and an in-person examination.
Request a medical reviewLast reviewed 7 September 2026 by the international patient team at St. Luke’s Hospital. Visa, entry and transport details are checked against the official sources listed in each section. Treatment content is reviewed separately by the orthopedic team.