Gangnam-gu promotes K-medical tourism to USFK at Camp Humphreys festival

Seoul's Gangnam-gu announced Tuesday that it participated in "Freedom Festa 2026," held Saturday at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, to promote Gangnam medical tourism to US Forces Korea personnel and their families.

Freedom Festa is Camp Humphreys' flagship event, held this year to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. About 15,000 USFK service members, family members and civilian employees attended. Gangnam-gu joined the event to directly showcase Gangnam's medical technology and medical tourism services to USFK personnel, whom the district identified as a high-potential medical tourism market among foreign residents in South Korea.

The district operated a Gangnam medical tourism pavilion at the venue, joined by four of its medical partner institutions: Gangnam CHA Hospital, Dubalro Hospital, Celiting Clinic and Salon de Doctor Tunes Clinic.

Each institution offered one-on-one consultations in its area of specialty. Gangnam CHA Hospital covered women's health checkups, infertility treatment and general health screenings. Dubalro Hospital handled consultations on foot and ankle conditions and rehabilitation. Celiting Clinic introduced skin laser and stem cell treatments, while Salon de Doctor Tunes Clinic presented non-surgical contouring and recovery management programs.

The pavilion also ran hands-on programs for visitors, including an AI skin diagnosis experience and a prize giveaway, to build interest in Gangnam medical tourism. Practical medical consultations covering skin care, weight management, rehabilitation and health screenings were also available throughout the event.

The district also promoted its "Medi Sale" program, tied to the Gangnam Medi-Tour Festa scheduled for September. The Medi Sale offers foreign patients discounts on medical procedures. On-site reservation consultations were available to help convert visitor interest into actual trips to Gangnam for medical services.

Following the event, Gangnam-gu plans to organize a familiarization tour for USFK personnel to turn pavilion consultations into actual foreign patient visits. Participants who expressed interest in visiting Gangnam will attend a medical tourism briefing, a health seminar and a K-culture experience at the Gangnam Medical Tour Center before visiting partner medical institutions for hands-on care. The district said the process is designed to deepen understanding of Gangnam's medical services and support connections between clinical care and medical tourism.

In April, the district hosted "Gangnam Medical Tour with ASAS," inviting 17 members of the Ambassadors' Spouses Association of Seoul. The event drew ambassadors' spouses from 16 countries, including Bangladesh, Mexico and Hungary. Participants toured Gangnam CHA Women's Hospital and the Gangnam Medical Tour Center, and took part in a K-beauty experience.

"USFK personnel and their families are an important segment of foreign medical tourism demand, as they live in Korea and can directly experience medical services here," Gangnam District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki said. "Through this event, we showcased Gangnam's excellent medical infrastructure and the competitiveness of K-medical tourism on the ground."