"Expanding Medical Tourism in Central Asia": Busan Strengthens Mutual Cooperation in Kazakhstan

[Financial News] Busan Metropolitan City Government and the Busan Economic Promotion Agency announced on the 15th that they had successfully concluded a Busan medical tourism briefing and business consultation session held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, over two days from the 8th to the 9th in connection with the launch of a direct Busan–Almaty route.
The visit was organized to promote Busan's advanced medical technology and customized medical services as part of efforts to gain a foothold in the Central Asian medical tourism market. It also aimed to foster mutual cooperation and shared growth through medical tourism exchanges.
The medical tourism briefing held on the 8th was attended by 81 people, including representatives from the Association of Koreans in Kazakhstan, Koryo Ilbo, ChildFund Korea, and local agencies that refer foreign patients. Busan's advanced medical technology and medical tourism services were introduced, and the Busan Economic Promotion Agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the Association of Koreans in Kazakhstan.
At the local buyer business consultation session held on the 9th, nine institutions that attract foreign patients from Busan and 23 companies from Kazakhstan's medical tourism industry participated. They held 107 medical tourism business consultations and signed two memorandums of understanding.
Last year, 21,500 patients from Central Asia visited South Korea for medical tourism, a 12.5% increase from 2024. Kazakhstan, in particular, recorded the highest medical expenditure per foreign patient in 2024, at 6.078 million won, drawing attention as a high-value medical tourism market.
[email protected] Reporter Kwon Byeong-seok Reporter