Stem Cell Therapy in South Korea: Laws & Updates 2025

South Korea has become a rising destination for stem cell therapy, offering everything from cutting-edge joint treatments to experimental therapies for conditions like Parkinson’s and autoimmune diseases. But what’s legal, what’s actually offered, and how do you know what’s legit?

 In this guide, we break down the rules, risks, prices, and top cities. So you can decide if South Korea is the right choice for your treatment journey.

Is Stem Cell Therapy Legal in South Korea in 2025

Yes, stem cell therapy is legal in South Korea. BUT it’s not straight forward. It’s regulated under the Advanced Regenerative Bio Act, which separates approved treatments and certified clinics from those that aren’t. This new law officially took effect in February 2025. You can read more about it here.

Be careful when reading online! You might read everything is legal, but there’s nuances outlined below.

How South Korea Regulates Stem Cell Therapy

To offer experimental therapies, like stem cell treatment for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, clinics and hospitals must be designated as regenerative medical institutions. These certified clinics must submit a treatment plan for review and get approval before treating patients with serious or incurable diseases.

Important: This doesn’t mean that stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s is officially approved. But designated clinics can still offer it as a regulated, experimental option. These clinics are allowed to:

• Grow and culture cells in a lab to deliver high-dose treatments

• Use umbilical cord-derived MSCs
  

Clinics that aren’t officially certified can still offer autologous stem cell treatments, using your own fat or bone marrow stem cells for:

• Joint pain
  
• Wellness
  
• Cosmetic or anti-aging purposes

But there are key limitations:

• They cannot grow or culture cells in a lab
• They can only isolate and re-inject the cells

Approved Stem Cell Treatments in Korea

Here are examples of stem cell treatments that have been officially approved:

1. Cartistem®: by Medipost
   – Type: Umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (allogeneic)
   – Approved for: Knee osteoarthritis (especially for patients with cartilage defects)
   – Approval Year: 2012 (MFDS approved)
   – Not experimental: This is a commercial product, widely used in hospitals for eligible patients.
2. Hearticellgram-AMI: by Pharmicell
   – Type: Autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells
   – Approved for: Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack recovery)
   – Approval Year: 2011 (MFDS-approved)
   – Notes: Also approved in South Korea and used clinically.
3. Queencell®: by Anterogen
   – Type: Autologous adipose-derived stem cells
   – Approved for: Crohn’s disease-associated complex perianal fistulas
   – Not experimental: Commercially available and used in certified clinics.
   

Do I need a Visa for South Korea?

No, citizens from the UK, US, and Australia do not need a visa for short-term visits to South Korea. Your Stem Cell treatment should be done in under 90 days.

Here’s how it works:

Important: While you don’t need a visa, you must apply for a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) before arrival. It’s a simple online application that usually takes a few minutes to complete.

How much Stem Cell Treatment cost in South Korea

Stem cell therapy in South Korea typically costs between $10,000 and $30,000 USD, depending on the clinic, condition, and type of cells used.

Prices can vary widely. Some wellness-focused clinics offering autologous treatments may charge less, while hospitals offering higher-dose umbilical cord stem cell therapy for serious conditions often fall on the higher end.

We’re actively gathering more accurate pricing across top clinics, so stay tuned. We’ll be updating this soon!

Stem Cell Therapy Scam in South Korea

One of the biggest scandals in medical science history happened right here. In the early 2000s, a prominent South Korean scientist, Dr. Hwang Woo-suk, made headlines worldwide after claiming he had successfully cloned human embryos and created patient-specific embryonic stem cells. These claims were published in Science, one of the world’s top medical journals and were seen as groundbreaking at the time.

But it all came crashing down.

Investigations later revealed that Dr. Hwang had fabricated much of his data and had also violated bioethics laws, including pressuring junior researchers to donate their eggs for experiments. He was eventually convicted of embezzling research funds and received a suspended prison sentence in 2009. His case became known as the “Hwang Affair” and left a lasting stain on the country’s scientific community.

As a result, South Korea overhauled its laws around stem cell research. Today, treatments and clinical research are far more tightly regulated under the Advanced Regenerative Bio Act. The goal: to make sure science moves forward ethically and that patients aren’t misled by unproven claims.

Latest advancements in Stem cell therapy in South Korea

South Korea’s making some interesting advancements around Stem cell treatments:

• Cellino and Karis Bio are partnering to develop the first autologous iPSC therapy for cardiovascular disease, now in human trials in South Korea. The treatment uses a patient’s own cells to grow new blood vessels and avoid rejection.Full Details are in this article!
• South Korean biotech firms have made significant strides in developing stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease. S.Biomedics is advancing TED-A9, an embryonic stem cell treatment showing early success. Notably, a patient regained mobility, highlighting the therapy’s potential. They gave their update in this report.
  
• In 2023, South Korea put its money where its future is. Dropping ₩400 billion (about $300 million USD) into twelve breakthrough biotechnologies, including stem cell therapy, gene editing, and organoid research. The goal? To become a world leader in biotech innovation. As part of the plan, they’re building five national bio hubs by 2028, featuring cutting-edge facilities like automated bio foundries and a central data powerhouse to fuel the next generation of medical breakthroughs. This article covers all their initiatives.

Top Cities for Stem Cell Therapy in South Korea

Stem cell Therapy in Seoul

Seoul is home to world-renowned hospitals like CHA Bundang, Samsung Medical Center, and Severance Hospital. The city leads the charge in both clinical care and stem cell research. You’ll find most of South Korea’s Stem Cell Clinics based here

Stem cell Therapy in Busan

Busan blends top-tier medicine with a coastal vibe. As Korea’s second-largest city, it’s growing fast as a stem cell therapy hotspot. Especially for travelers who want excellent care without Seoul’s price tag. Think of it as your health retreat with a view.

Stem Cell Therapy in Incheon

Incheon is where some of Korea’s biggest biotech dreams are being built. Thanks to the Incheon Free Economic Zone and the Songdo Bio Cluster, the city is becoming a major destination for advanced regenerative treatments. If you’re flying in for therapy, you’re already halfway there.

Is South Korea good for Stem Cell Therapy?

South Korea is definitely a major player in stem cell therapy but it comes with pros and cons you should know before booking a flight.

Why Patients Consider South Korea:

• Legal Framework: Stem cell therapy is legal and regulated under the Advanced Regenerative Bio Act, which came into effect in 2025. This allows approved hospitals to offer experimental treatments (e.g., for Parkinson’s or autoimmune disease) under government oversight.
  
• Biotech Investment: The Korean government has invested heavily in biotech, pouring ₩400 billion (~$300 million USD) into next-gen treatments like stem cells, gene editing, and organoid research. Though this research probably isn’t being applied yet at clinic level.
  

What to Watch Out For:

• Two-Tier System: Only clinics designated as regenerative medicine institutions can offer high-dose, lab-grown therapies. Others can still offer stem cell treatments, but only using your own (autologous) cells for things like wellness or joint support. These aren’t officially “treatments” and don’t require approval.
  
• Lack of Transparency: Some clinics don’t always make it clear which therapies are experimental or what kind of stem cells are being used. Always ask what kind of cells are being offered, how they’re prepared, and whether the clinic is designated by the government.
  
• Cost Variability: Prices vary wildly anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 USD. Be cautious of upselling or unverified claims.
  

If you are going to choose Korea, definitely be careful about choosing which clinic you’re going to use. Korea does have one of the leading healthcare systems in the world, but it can be the wild west for Stem Cell Therapy.

If you’re thinking about South East Asia for Stem Cell Therapy, Japan might also be an interesting option for you. We’ve put together the full guide for Japan here and another article looking at the Best Countries for Stem Cell Therapy.