Foreign Language Advertising Allowed in Medical Tourism Special Zone

Additional Regulatory Exceptions for Regional Specialized Development Zones
Amendment to the Regional Special Zone Act Approved at Cabinet Meeting

Foreign language medical advertisements will be allowed in regionally specialized development zones related to medical tourism. This is expected to contribute to attracting foreign medical tourists. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 22nd that the partial amendment bill of the "Regulatory Special Zones Act for Regulatory Free Zones and Regionally Specialized Development Zones," which establishes regulatory exceptions to allow foreign language medical advertisements within regionally specialized development zones related to foreign medical tourism, was approved at the Cabinet meeting.

Regionally specialized development zones are areas that allow selective regulatory exceptions tailored to regional characteristics to promote balanced regional development, revitalize the local economy, and foster regionally specialized industries. Since their introduction in 2004, a total of 225 zones have been designated at the basic local government level nationwide, and currently, 176 zones are operating in 143 cities, counties, and districts.

Under the current Article 56 of the Medical Service Act, medical personnel are generally prohibited from domestic advertising aimed at attracting foreign patients. By special provisions of the Medical Overseas Expansion Act, foreign language medical advertisements are only allowed in a limited manner in certain areas such as airports, ports, and duty-free shops. The amendment includes a new exception that allows foreign language medical advertisements within the relevant regionally specialized development zones if the entity engaged in specialized foreign medical tourism business meets the criteria prescribed by Presidential Decree, in order to foster the increase of foreign medical tourists and related regional industries.

Currently, there are four regionally specialized development zones related to medical tourism operating nationwide: Miracle Medi Zone (Gangseo-gu, Seoul), Smart Medical Zone (Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul), Global High Medi Hub Zone (Seo-gu, Busan), and MediCity Global Medical Zone (Jung-gu and Suseong-gu, Daegu). If foreign language medical advertisements become possible within these zones, accessibility and convenience for foreign patients to medical institutions are expected to improve, contributing to increased sales and employment in related industries.

Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, “This partial amendment bill prepared through government legislation reflects the government's strong will and efforts to support the attraction of foreign medical tourists and revitalize the regional economy. We hope it will pass smoothly through thorough deliberation by the National Assembly.” He added, “In the future, we will continue to make our best efforts to discover new regulatory exceptions based on the voices from local governments and industries to foster regionally specialized industries and promote balanced regional development.”