韩国实施近十年的医美退税政策月底终结，失去这张“折扣券”后外国消费者还会去吗？

Core Viewpoint - The termination of South Korea's tax refund policy for medical beauty services, effective December 31, 2023, is expected to significantly impact the medical tourism industry, which has thrived on this incentive for nearly a decade [1][2]. Group 1: Policy Changes - The tax refund policy, which allowed foreign patients to claim a 10% VAT refund on medical beauty services exceeding 30,000 KRW (approximately 143.7 CNY), has been officially removed from the revised Tax Special Cases Limitation Act [1][2]. - This policy was instrumental in attracting a large number of overseas medical beauty tourists, contributing to the growth of South Korea's medical tourism sector [1][2]. Group 2: Economic Impact - The total medical expenditure by foreign patients in South Korea is projected to rise from approximately 400 billion KRW (about 1.912 billion CNY) in 2019 to 12.4 trillion KRW (around 59.272 billion CNY) by 2024 [2]. - The cancellation of the tax refund is expected to increase the cost of medical services for foreign patients, potentially leading to a significant decrease in medical beauty tourists [4]. Group 3: Industry Response - Industry professionals have expressed strong opposition to the policy change, warning that it could diminish South Korea's status as a leading destination for medical tourism, especially as other countries enhance their competitive advantages [6]. - Analysts suggest that while the immediate impact of the tax refund cancellation may be limited, the long-term success of South Korea's medical beauty industry will depend on maintaining high standards of quality, reputation, and safety [7].