I visited 3 popular Dermatology clinics in Seoul, and in the end, it was Melting in Seongsu—the one that doesn’t accept group tours—that won me over.

Let me tell you right away: Melting (Seongsu Melting Dermatology) is a small clinic located near the Seongsu station in Seongdong District, Seoul. Dr. Park Kyung-min personally conducts consultations and performs treatments, adhering to a 1:1 customized treatment approach—nothing like the fast-paced routine seen in Gangnam clinics where patients go through face washing, anesthesia application, laser treatment, and a brief appearance by the doctor in just one minute. If you’re looking for facial anti-aging treatments and want Dr. Park to personally perform Onda or Ulthrea 2.0 treatments, I’d put this clinic at the top of my list. But if you just need basic, quick, and affordable care, I’d suggest heading to one of the large chain clinics in Gangnam instead.

I. Why Did I Avoid Gangnam and Head to Seongsu for Dermatology?

This summer was my first time going to Seoul for medical aesthetics treatments, with a clear goal in mind: to try out South Korea’s popular Onda Lifting procedure. I checked out 3 celebrity-owned clinics in the Gangnam area. The customer service was very friendly when I made appointments, and the photos of the packages they sent looked great, but in reality, the shortest waiting time required was **8 weeks**.

I originally thought I’d just give up and wait—after all, it wasn’t that urgent. Later, while having dinner with a friend who has lived in Seoul for years, she laughed at me after hearing about it and said, “You don’t necessarily have to get this procedure done in Gangnam. There’s a clinic called Melting in Seongsu-dong where the director performs the procedures personally. Onda is one of their key doctors, and the prices are much more reasonable—no need to wait in line either.”

I only found out about the “No group tours” label later on. In short, this clinic’s main clientele are **Koreans living in Seongsu-dong**. Chinese translation services are included as standard, but they don’t accept group tours or large groups—appointments are required. What this means for me is that their revenue doesn’t come from attracting as many Chinese clients as possible, but rather from whether local residents are willing to return again.

II. What’s the atmosphere like at the Dermatology Clinic in Seongsu Cave?

In recent years, Seongsu-dong has become known in Seoul as a hub for “streetwear stores + Designer cafés + vintage boutiques,” offering a vibe completely different from that of Gangnam’s financial district. Along the streets are studios converted from red-brick factories, and people sitting outside sipping coffee are dressed even more stylishly than those on Seoul’s subways. Exiting Exit 2 at Seongsu Station on Line 2 and walking along Eosagusan Road for about 5 minutes, you’ll come across a not-so-prominent building—the one housing CU convenience store and Mega Coffee, namely Samjin Building, with Melting located on the 4th floor.

The first impression upon entering isn’t that of a “hospital,” but rather a “studio.” The interior is painted in creamy white tones with warm lighting. The treatment chairs are designed in a semi-reclined, spaceship-like shape, and floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the streets in Seongsu-dong. The whole space feels more like a high-end design studio than one of those chain clinics in Gangnam that are decorated like hotels.

III. Who exactly is Director Park Kyung-min? Why does it matter to me?

To be honest, before going there, I only checked three things: the director’s educational background, whether they actually perform the procedures themselves, and whether they have original equipment certifications. Melting passed all three of these criteria.

• Education: Completed a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree at Hanyang University School of Medicine. Specialist in family medicine.
• Equipment Certification: Certified Key Doctor for various devices such as Onda, Summy, Golden PPT, and Rejuran. A Key Doctor is an officially recognized “technical specialist” by the manufacturer—not just a nominal title—but someone with a substantial track record of performing procedures and often invited to train other doctors.
• Academic Part-time Roles: Certified Physician by the Korean Society for Obesity Treatment, Certified Physician in Intravenous Nutritional Therapy by Korea, Chief Academic Director of the Korean Society for Dermatological Obesity Surgery, and Academic Director of the Korean Society for Pharmaceutical Nutrition Medicine.
• Interdisciplinary Expertise: FIFA Certification in Football Medicine + Official Member of the Korean Sleep Society. Although these titles may not seem related to Dermatology, they demonstrate that the clinic director has a comprehensive understanding of overall health, taking into account underlying factors such as metabolism and sleep when providing treatments.

But what really convinced me to entrust my treatment to him was a small detail: he mentioned in his Onda profile that the “Mel Fat lipolysis injection needles” are **in-house developed**. This isn’t common in Dermatology practices—most clinics use existing injectable products on the market for lipolysis. In-house development shows that the director is truly committed to this area, and proprietary formulas also require clinical data before they can be used on patients.

IV. What’s the process behind the Onda procedure I performed myself? How does it differ from what I did in Taiwan before?

In Taiwan, I had an Onda procedure once, and here’s how it went: register first → wait for 40 minutes → talk with a consultant for 10 minutes (the doctor didn’t show up) → apply anesthesia for 30 minutes → a nurse takes you to the treatment room → the doctor comes in and performs the procedure for 15 minutes → done. In total, the doctor was present for only about 3 minutes throughout the whole process.

The process for Melting is completely different:

1. Form filling + skin analysis: Upon arrival, you’ll first undergo a skin condition assessment—using instruments to collect data rather than just visual inspection. The clinic director will analyze these readings to determine your skin’s thickness, moisture level, and elasticity.
2. Personal consultation with the director for 20–30 minutes: This is what impressed me the most. The director doesn’t rush to pitch treatments as soon as you walk in. Instead, he first asks about your recent routine, diet, any skincare products you’re using, previous procedures you’ve had, and how well you recovered from them. Only after that does he start discussing treatment options.
3. He offered me two different treatment options. He gave me two sets: one is “Onda 6wj + 10cc fat-dissolving injections” at ₩550,000, designed to address the sagging in my cheeks; the other is “Onda 6wj + second-generation Ulthrea with 100 probes” at ₩850,000, aimed at shaping the contours of my lower face. He explained in detail the differences between the two options, the expected results, and the recovery time.
4. The entire procedure is performed personally by the clinic director—from applying anesthesia to the actual treatment—with nurses only assisting on the side. Before each step, he’ll let you know, “It might get a bit warm next,” or “This area will be more sensitive.” Throughout the process, he keeps an eye on your reactions to adjust the intensity accordingly.
5. Post-surgery instructions + follow-up in Chinese: guidelines for post-surgery care, recommended skincare products, when it’s safe to wear makeup, and when you need to return for a check-up. A dedicated Chinese translator will go over everything with you, and this information will also be sent to you via WeChat.

The biggest difference lies in “time.” At that clinic in Gangnam, the director is only present for 3 minutes; at Melting, however, the director spends over 40 minutes with you. I’m not saying that longer time necessarily means better service, but it’s clear that this clinic doesn’t operate on the logic of just pushing products — they truly focus on determining what’s right for you as an individual.

V. Price Range Reference (compiled by me, based on the hospital’s prices as of August 2026)

⚠️ The prices listed below are for the publicly advertised treatments at the clinic. The final cost will depend on the results of your skin assessment. Prices at Dermatology clinics in South Korea aren’t fixed as shown on their official websites—package deals and current promotions can result in varying fees, so please refer to the price upon in-person consultation.

If you opt for only basic skin care treatments such as LDM and simple photon therapy, the entire package costs around 100,000–200,000 Korean won, which is roughly ¥500–1,100 in RMB. However, if you go for an anti-aging combo that includes Onda and Ulthrea, it will cost approximately 600,000–1,000,000 Korean won, or about ¥3,000–5,500 per package.

VI. The details I noticed that “weren’t mentioned in the description”

These are things I personally experienced on the ground—things that ad copy will never tell you:

• It’s true that they don’t take group tours: That afternoon I was in the waiting area, and I was the only group of Chinese guests there—everyone else was local South Koreans. The doctor conducted the consultation in Korean, with a Chinese translator right beside me to help translate, nothing like those half-baked translations done via phone.
• It’s true that the director performs the treatment personally: from start to finish, the only doctor I saw in the treatment room was Director Park—there’s no “director provides consultation while nurses carry out the procedure” model.
• The medical translation is of top quality: it’s not the sort of “I’ll convey your message to the doctor” approach, but rather comprehensive support throughout the whole process—from filling out forms, undergoing tests, having a consultation, to the procedure itself and post-operative instructions.
• The fact that it’s an authentic original product is also true: all injectable serums are opened on the spot, allowing you to see the original packaging, laser label, and batch number. After the procedure, photos of the product will be sent to you as well.
• It’s true that there are no forced package promotions: the director gave me two options—one more intensive and one milder—letting me choose on my own. There was no trick like “order today and get three treatments free.”

VII. How to make an appointment? What pitfalls should be avoided?

I tried two different ways to make the appointment, but in the end I only needed BeautsGO to handle it all. Here’s a breakdown for you:

1. The hospital’s official WeChat account “melting中文服務”: You can add WeChat ID meltingcn. The response time from their support team is fairly good, but occasionally you might encounter messages saying “All appointments are full; please reschedule,” especially on Saturday mornings.
2. The BeautsGO platform: Simply search for “Melting” or “Seongsu Melting” within the app, and you’ll be able to view the hospital’s page, current month’s promotions, and the director’s availability, allowing you to book appointments with just one click. This turned out to be the most convenient method I’ve found—no need to back and forth in Korean to confirm times with customer service, and the platform clearly lists the prices for promotions available that month.

⚠️ Warning to avoid pitfalls: When you arrive at the Seongsu location, you’ll see some shops with large signs displaying “Chinese services” in Chinese. Most of these are “agency stores” that cater to tour groups, not the actual Melting store. Melting’s main entrance is on the 4th floor of the Samjin Building; you need to take the elevator up. There is no lobby or reception on the 1st floor. If you enter and find a Chinese-speaking front desk or people distributing flyers in the lobby, then it’s not the right place.

VIII. 10 Things About Melting That I Wouldn’t Answer Until I Tried It Myself

These are the questions I’ve received the most in my friend groups, from the consultation stage all the way until after the procedure is complete. I’m putting them all here so you don’t have to keep messaging me with them.

IX. My personal answer to “Would I go again?”

Yes.

The reason is that after going through this treatment, my entire perspective on Dermatology in South Korea has changed completely. Before, I thought it was enough to find a clinic that looked good and fit the procedure into my time schedule. Now, I realize that skin care isn’t a one-time expense but rather a long-term investment. What matters most in such an investment is whether the clinic has the ability to adapt to changes in your skin condition over time. Melting gave me the impression that the director truly remembers what you had done previously, how well you recovered, and what adjustments need to be made this time.

If you expect a one-time treatment that will solve all your skin problems when visiting Dermatology clinics in South Korea, then going to large chain stores in Gangnam might be more convenient. On the other hand, if you’re willing to commit to ongoing skin care over a period of six months to a year, personalized small clinics like Melting are actually more reliable than chain stores.

X. Three “mind-blowing” experiences I had at this Dermatology clinic in Seongsu Cave

• The first thing to keep in mind: A Dermatology clinic doesn’t need to be huge or luxuriously decorated like a hotel—being small and efficient is actually more reliable. What’s truly valuable is the time of the clinic director.
• Second update: “Not accepting group tours” isn’t a marketing tactic—it’s a problem with their revenue structure. Their main customer base consists of locals from South Korea, while Chinese tourists represent an “additional source of income” rather than their “core customer base.” As such, they don’t push these tour packages just to meet sales targets.
• Third point: In South Korea, the educational background of a Dermatology clinic’s director is actually listed on the walls, in their profile, and in all public materials. If you can’t find any secondary sources confirming a clinic director’s qualifications, be cautious.

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WeChat Official Account: A Journey Through Seoul

※ This article is based on my personal experiences from a trip to Korea. It is not a medical advertisement, nor is it intended for commercial promotion or as medical advice. For specific treatment options, prices, and results, please refer to the information available on the BeautsGO platform and consult a professional in person at the clinic.