If you are coming to Korea and thinking about vision correction, here is the biggest thing I learned after spending way too much time comparing clinics and reading Reddit threads: do not decide on LASIK, LASEK, or SMILE before you have actually had your eyes tested.

I originally started with the usual tourist mindset figure out the procedure, compare prices, book it, and fit it somewhere between sightseeing days. Once I looked more closely at my options, that order started to feel backwards.

What stood out to me first was the testing. A proper pre-op examination should look at things like refraction, eye pressure, corneal condition and shape, with additional testing depending on the eye. That made the process feel less like picking a surgery from a menu and more like letting the exam determine what is actually appropriate.

The second thing was the equipment. Some clinics have multiple systems available for SMILE and SMILE Pro. I liked that because I did not want to walk into a clinic where there was only one premium procedure being pushed as the answer to everything.

For budgeting, the SMILE range I was working with was in the low 2 million KRW range. Obviously, treat that as a rough reference rather than a guaranteed quote the final recommendation and cost can depend on your exam and eye condition.

The location is another underrated advantage if you are visiting Seoul. If the clinic is close to a major station and already near places on your sightseeing itinerary, it is much easier to fit an exam into the trip than going somewhere far outside your route.

For international visitors, English contact options and messaging apps can also remove one of the annoying parts of arranging medical appointments abroad.

My biggest travel tip, though: plan around the follow-up, not just the procedure day. Put the eye appointment early in the trip, leave some flexibility afterward, and ask in advance how long you need to stop wearing contacts before the exam.

If I were making a Seoul vision-correction shortlist, I would compare clinics based on detailed testing, available equipment, international-patient communication, and location rather than just looking at the advertised price.

If you have actually done SMILE in Seoul, what mattered more in the end — price, surgeon, equipment, or follow-up care?

Edit: yes I know I should compare more than one clinic. I did, I just didn't want to turn this into a five thousand word post.

I spent way too long researching SMILE in Seoul, so here’s the checklist I wish I had from day one