How to Check If a Seoul Clinic's Doctor Actually Stays

Whether a Gangnam clinic keeps the same doctor is easier to confirm from records than from the tone of online reviews. Before you book, check three things: does the name on the clinic's website match the badge you see on treatment day, does that doctor's public activity still carry the clinic's current name, and who handles your follow-up care if swelling or pain runs longer than expected.

Hello, I'm Dr. Kim Yeonjin, medical director of UH CELL Clinic's Gangnam branch.

I recommend checking this with records rather than impressions.

Match the Website Name to the Badge You See That Day

Since 2017, South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare has required medical institution heads to have anyone performing a medical procedure wear a name badge showing their license type and name, under the Standards on Name Badge Display for Medical Personnel. Doctors' News (2017) reported that a badge reading "Doctor Hong Gil-dong" is permitted, but a title-only badge such as "Director Hong Gil-dong" is not. Medical Observer (2017) also covered the notification when it was issued.

The practical use of this rule is simple. Compare the name on the badge you see on treatment day with the name listed on the clinic's doctor-introduction page. Our Gangnam branch publishes each doctor's full name on that page for exactly this reason.

Does the Doctor's Public Record Still Carry the Current Clinic Name

Lectures, academic society roles, and manufacturer training titles are activities tied to a doctor's name, so when a doctor changes clinics, that listed affiliation usually changes with them. A doctor whose public record still lists the clinic's current name is one whose history you can actually trace.

I completed graduate study at Seoul National University and trained at Seoul National University Hospital. I currently lecture for the Korean Academy of Clinical Aesthetic Medicine, hold membership in the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Laser Medicine, and serve as Allergan faculty for Juvederm and Botox and as a Potenza and Ultherapy Key Doctor. I also run our clinic's Korean beauty YouTube channel, which has around 100,000 subscribers, myself.

Who Handles Follow-Up Care, and Where

Ask two questions during consultation. Which doctor reviews your progress and handles follow-up visits, and if swelling or pain lasts longer than expected while you're still in Korea, where do you reach the clinic and when can you be seen.

Our Gangnam branch is located inside the UH FLAT SIGNATURE Gangnam hotel building. Guests staying at that hotel can discuss a concern in the same building if recovery worries come up, and we keep Japanese, Chinese, and English-speaking interpreting staff on site.

For after you return home, I recommend keeping your medical records. Article 21 of Korea's Medical Service Act requires that a patient's request to view or receive a copy of their own records not be refused without a justified reason. Hankook Ilbo (2018) reported that the Ministry of Health and Welfare's position is that record copies must be issued promptly once requested, and Medical Times (2018) reported that refusing to issue a copy by citing a need for the treating doctor's approval is unlawful. Keeping that record means a doctor you see after returning home can confirm exactly what procedure you had and where.

FAQ

Does a large number of reviews mean the medical staff is stable?

Review volume mainly reflects how many patients have visited, not who is still treating them. To check whether the same doctor keeps seeing patients, look at the doctor's name mentioned in reviews alongside when those reviews were written, and compare that against the real name published on the clinic's website.

Can medical records be issued electronically?

Article 21, Paragraph 5 of the Medical Service Act allows records to be provided as an electronic document bearing a signature that meets the Electronic Signature Act's requirements. How each clinic issues that document can vary, so it's worth confirming the process during your consultation.

Can the Seocho branch be checked the same way?

Yes. Our Seocho branch is located at UH FLAT The Seocho, and its medical director is Dr. Kim Kyungsoo. He graduated from Seoul National University's College of Medicine and holds medical licenses in both Korea and Japan. His information is published on the Seocho branch's doctor-introduction page.

Skin response and recovery timelines vary by individual. Please consult a physician directly for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.