Kind cut: Foreigners to get VAT refunds for plastic surgery

By Choi Sung-jin

Koreans are known for their love of cosmetic surgery. Now they are pushing it as a major tourist attraction. 

For a year starting in April, foreign tourists who have cosmetic surgery in Korea will receive refunds of value-added tax, according to a revised law that passed the National Assembly Monday. 

More specifically, foreigners who get six types of plastic surgeries _ nose, eyelid, breast, wrinkles, teeth and liposuction _ from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, will be able to have their surtax back if they submit rebate slips issued by hospitals. 

The Assembly's taxation committee hopes the revised act will make the plastic surgery market more transparent, because tax officials were unable to trace the cash payments by foreigners as they are not covered by medical insurance. The temporary system is also expected to help root out operations by unregistered surgeons who rely on illegal brokers. 

The number of foreign tourists who had treatment or plastic surgery in Korea has more than doubled in four years, from 122,000 in 2011 to 267,000 last year.