Seoul Checkups: Black American Women Turn to South Korea for Life-Saving Preventive Care
Black American women are increasingly flying to Seoul for comprehensive, one-day preventive health exams that offer same-day imaging, broad diagnostic panels, and a patient-centered experience at a lower cost than typical U.S. care. The trips spotlight gaps in U.S. care—delays in diagnosis, bias, and inequities—while yielding findings like fibroids or hypertension and a sense of inclusive, respectful treatment. Although affordable compared with U.S. care and often under $600 per exam, this form of medical tourism remains accessible only to those with means and flexible schedules, with many planning to continue overseas checkups.
