"Direct Threat to Public Health Amid Low Birth Rates and an Aging Population"
Over the past five years, the number of clinics specializing in so-called "profitable" elective medical fields, such as plastic surgery and dermatology, has steadily increased, while clinics in essential medical fields, such as pediatrics, have declined.
According to data on "Clinic-Level Medical Specialties" submitted by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to Assemblywoman Kim Mi-ae of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee on October 5, 2025, the number of plastic surgery clinics nationwide rose by 20.6%, from 991 in 2019 to 1,195 in 2024.
During the same period, dermatology clinics increased by 11.8%, and anesthesiology and pain medicine clinics by 20.4%, resulting in a significant expansion of clinics focused on cosmetic and non-insured treatment services.
In contrast, the number of pediatric clinics decreased by 1.8%, from 2,227 to 2,187. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics saw only a marginal increase of 0.8%, from 1,311 to 1,321, indicating a virtual stagnation. Notably, as of August this year, plastic surgery and dermatology clinics continued to grow, while pediatric clinics declined further to 2,175.
This concentration trend was even more pronounced in the new clinic market. Of the 1,996 clinics newly opened last year, 12.1% (242 clinics) were in plastic surgery, dermatology, or anesthesiology and pain medicine, whereas only 5.9% (118 clinics) were in pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology combined.
The gap widened further when looking at the net change, which reflects both openings and closures. Last year, dermatology clinics saw a net increase of 45, and anesthesiology and pain medicine clinics increased by 43. However, pediatric clinics increased by only 5, and obstetrics and gynecology clinics by 9. This year, the number of pediatric clinic closures outpaced openings, resulting in a net decrease of 15 as of August.
Assemblywoman Kim stated, "New clinic openings and specialty registrations are being reorganized around elective medical services. The decline in pediatric clinics and the minimal increase in obstetrics and gynecology clinics directly threaten public health and safety amid low birth rates and an aging population." She added, "To create an environment conducive to childbirth and child-rearing, tailored measures are needed to address vulnerable areas for childbirth and prevent gaps in pediatric care. The government must accelerate support for essential medical personnel and improve reimbursement rates."
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