Paying for liposuction in Korea —
cards, VAT and receipts in Cheongdam, Gangnam.

Payment questions rarely get answered before arrival, and they should be. What currency, which cards, is a deposit refundable, is VAT on top, and can you claim any of it back — all of it is knowable in advance, and all of it is worth confirming in writing before you fly to Gangnam.

How you can pay at ARTNER Cheongdam, Gangnam

All amounts are in Korean Won. There is no separate foreign-patient price list and no surcharge for paying by card.

Method at ARTNER Cheongdam	How it works	Worth knowing
Credit / debit card	Accepted at the clinic in Gangnam, in KRW	Your bank converts at its own rate; watch foreign-transaction fees
Cash (KRW)	Accepted; ATMs and exchange are everywhere in Cheongdam	Airport rates are poor — exchange in Gangnam or withdraw locally
Bank transfer	Domestic or international transfer before or on the day	International transfers can take 1–3 days; send early
Deposit	May be requested to hold a procedure date	Refund position is stated in writing with the quote
VAT (10%)	Added to the ex-VAT price at checkout	Foreign visitors may qualify for a refund — ask for current rules

Is VAT included in the quote?

No — prices at ARTNER Cheongdam are quoted excluding VAT, and 10% is added at checkout. That is the same convention as the Korean-language price list, and it is worth confirming with any Gangnam clinic when comparing quotes, because a 10% swing changes which one looks cheaper.

So a ₩1,190,000 area is ₩1,309,000 paid. The WhatsApp quote states both figures rather than leaving you to calculate.

Can foreign patients claim a VAT refund in Korea?

Foreign visitors may be eligible for a VAT refund on certain medical services under Korea's scheme, subject to conditions on the treatment type, the amount and the paperwork. The rules and thresholds change, so this is one to confirm rather than assume.

Ask your coordinator in Cheongdam for the current procedure at the time you pay — the refund is claimed with documentation issued at payment, and it cannot easily be reconstructed afterwards.

Deposits — and getting the terms in writing

A deposit may be requested to hold a procedure date, particularly around busy periods, with the balance settled at the clinic. ARTNER Cheongdam states the refund position in the same written message as the quote.

Ask this of any clinic in Korea before transferring money: what holds the date, what happens if the doctor declines the case at consultation, and what happens if you cancel. A clinic that answers clearly in writing is telling you something useful about how it operates.

Receipts, documentation and insurance

English receipts and a treatment record are provided, along with an English operative report on request. Cosmetic body contouring is not usually covered by insurance, but documentation matters anyway — for employers, for follow-up care at home, and for your own records.

Keep the receipt, the operative report and the aftercare instructions together, and photograph them. If you need medical care after flying home, that folder is what a local doctor will want.

Practical money tips for a trip to Gangnam

Exchange rates at Incheon Airport are poor; withdraw or exchange in Cheongdam or Gangnam instead. Tell your bank you are travelling so a large medical payment is not blocked as suspicious — this happens more often than you would think.

Check your card's foreign-transaction fee before deciding between card and cash. And if you are paying by international transfer, send it several days early: transfers can take one to three working days to land.