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國際時事跟讀 Ep.K847: K-Beauty Tourism: A Growing Trend in South Korea
Highlights 主題摘要：
- South Korea has become a global beauty tourism destination, offering innovative and affordable treatments. Tourists combine travel with beauty procedures, taking advantage of competitive prices and cutting-edge techniques.
- The affordability of treatments in South Korea, such as Botox injections costing as little as $70, has led to a significant increase in medical tourism, with over 600,000 visitors in 2023.
- While low prices are attractive, experts advise prioritizing safety and quality. Thorough research, choosing reputable clinics, and understanding potential risks are crucial for a successful beauty tourism experience in South Korea.
South Korea has become a global beauty capital, attracting tourists from around the world who are eager to experience its famous skincare treatments and cosmetic procedures. This trend has given rise to a new form of tourism, where visitors combine their travel experiences with beauty treatments, taking advantage of the country's innovative techniques and competitive prices. The Korean beauty industry, known as K-beauty, has gained international recognition for its cutting-edge products and services.
南韓已成為全球美容之都，吸引世界各地的遊客前來體驗其著名的護膚療程和美容手術。這股趨勢催生了一種新型態的觀光，遊客在旅遊中融入美容療程體驗，享受該國創新技術和具有競爭力的價格。韓國美容產業，也就是所謂的 K-beauty（韓式美容），以其尖端產品和服務贏得國際認可。
One such tourist, Yerim Lee, recently shared her experience of undergoing 15 beauty treatments in just three days during a trip to Seoul. Her story highlights the growing popularity of beauty tourism in South Korea. Lee's treatments ranged from non-invasive procedures like microblading and skin boosters to more intensive ones such as Ultherapy and fat-dissolving injections. These treatments aim to achieve the Korean beauty ideal, which emphasizes glowing skin, delicate features, and a youthful appearance. Lee's beauty makeover included popular treatments like Botox, collagen-promoting injectables, and high-tech scalp treatments. The total cost of her treatments came to $4,578, which she claims is significantly cheaper than similar treatments in her home city of New York.
一位名叫 Yerim Lee 的遊客最近分享了她在首爾三天內接受 15 種美容療程的經歷。她的故事凸顯了南韓美容觀光日益普及的現象。李女士接受的療程從非侵入性的眉毛紋繡和皮膚重生注射（skin boosters），到較密集的音波拉提（Ultherapy）和溶脂注射等。這些療程目標是要達到韓式美的理想，強調亮澤肌膚、精緻五官和青春外表。 Lee 小姐的美容改造包括了諸如肉毒桿菌（Botox）注射、膠原蛋白促進劑注射，以及高科技頭皮護理等流行療程。她的療程總費用為 4,578 美元，她聲稱這比在她的家鄉紐約接受類似療程便宜許多。
The affordability of these treatments is a major draw for many tourists. For instance, Botox injections in Seoul can cost as little as $70, compared to $500-$1,400 in New York City. This price difference has led to a surge in medical and beauty tourism, with the South Korean government actively promoting this sector. In 2023, the country saw a record-breaking 605,768 tourists visiting for cosmetic procedures, a 144.2% increase from the previous year. The government has even announced plans to ease immigration procedures for medical tourists, aiming to attract 700,000 such visitors by 2027. This influx of beauty-seeking tourists has transformed areas like Seoul's Gangnam district, which is now famous for its high concentration of plastic surgery clinics and beauty treatment centers.
這些療程的可負擔性是吸引眾多遊客的主要原因。舉例來說，在首爾注射肉毒桿菌素的費用低至 70 美元，相較之下在紐約則需 500 至 1,400 美元。這樣的價差導致醫療和美容觀光大幅增長，南韓政府也積極推廣這個產業。2023 年，該國接待了破紀錄的 605,768 名前來接受美容手術的遊客，較前一年增加了 144.2%。政府甚至宣布計畫放寬醫療遊客的入境程序，目標在 2027 年前吸引 70 萬名此類遊客。這股美容遊客潮已經改變了首爾江南區等地的面貌，該區現在以高密度的整形診所和美容中心聞名。
However, experts caution that while the low prices are attractive, tourists should prioritize safety and quality over cost. Lee advises thorough research and recommends choosing reputable boutique clinics over cheaper "factory clinics." She emphasizes the importance of consulting with medical professionals and understanding the potential risks and side effects of each procedure. Language barriers can also pose challenges for international visitors, making it crucial to choose clinics that offer services in multiple languages. As beauty tourism continues to grow, South Korea is working to improve accessibility for non-Korean speakers and enhance the overall experience for international visitors. This includes developing resources and databases to help tourists navigate the complex world of K-beauty treatments and find reputable clinics. With proper research and caution, beauty tourists can enjoy the benefits of Korea's advanced beauty industry while ensuring their safety and satisfaction.
然而，專家提醒，儘管低價具有吸引力，遊客仍應將安全和品質置於價格之上。 Lee 小姐建議進行徹底的研究，並推薦選擇信譽良好的精品診所，而非較便宜的「工廠式診所」。她強調諮詢醫療專業人員、了解每項療程潛在風險和副作用的重要性。語言障礙也可能對國際遊客造成挑戰，因此選擇提供多語言服務的診所非常重要。隨著美容觀光持續成長，南韓正致力於提高非韓語使用者的便利性，並優化國際遊客的整體體驗。這包括開發資源和資料庫，以協助遊客在複雜的韓式美容療程世界中尋找信譽良好的診所。透過適當的研究和謹慎態度，美容遊客可以享受韓國先進美容產業的好處，同時確保自身的安全和滿意度。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字：
- Procedure (Pro-ce-dure): Lee's treatments ranged from non-invasive procedures like microblading and skin boosters to more intensive ones such as Ultherapy and fat-dissolving injections.
- Emphasize (Em-pha-size): These treatments aim to achieve the Korean beauty ideal, which emphasizes glowing skin, delicate features, and a youthful appearance.
- Affordability (Af-ford-a-bil-i-ty): The affordability of these treatments is a major draw for many tourists.
- Immigration (Im-mi-gra-tion): The government has even announced plans to ease immigration procedures for medical tourists, aiming to attract 700,000 such visitors by 2027.
- Boutique (Bou-tique): Lee advises thorough research and recommends choosing reputable boutique clinics over cheaper "factory clinics."
Reference article: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/10/style/south-korea-beauty-tourism/index.html