Corneal cross-linking cost in Korea
In Korean: 각막교차결합술 (gangmak gyocha gyeolhapsul)
Corneal cross-linking has a median price of ₩1,896,850 at Korean hospitals (about US$1,431). That is the middle of the prices reported by 30 hospitals, 11 of them in Seoul, to HIRA, the government’s Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, as of 23 October 2026.
Median
₩1,896,850
US$1,431
Average
₩1,921,720
US$1,449
Lowest
₩309,000
US$233
Highest
₩4,053,500
US$3,057
Median: half of hospitals charge less, half more. Lowest and highest are single hospitals and can include unusual cases.
Corneal cross-linking by kind of hospital
| Kind of hospital | Median | Average | Range | Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tertiary (university) hospitals상급종합 | ₩1,912,410 | ₩1,944,026 | ₩440,000 – ₩4,053,500 | 16 |
| General hospitals종합병원 | ₩1,530,000 | ₩1,640,069 | ₩309,000 – ₩3,764,960 | 8 |
| Hospitals병원 | ₩2,100,000 | ₩2,232,857 | ₩550,000 – ₩4,000,000 | 6 |
University (tertiary) hospitals are the large teaching hospitals such as those of Seoul National, Yonsei and Korea universities. Small clinics (의원) are not in this data — see how to check a clinic’s price.
Corneal cross-linking by region
| Region | Median | Average | Range | Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul서울 | ₩1,587,350 | ₩1,496,225 | ₩309,000 – ₩3,200,000 | 11 |
| Gyeonggi경기 | ₩1,667,000 | ₩1,560,833 | ₩670,000 – ₩1,990,000 | 6 |
| Incheon인천 | ₩1,924,820 | ₩1,924,820 | ₩1,924,820 – ₩1,924,820 | 1 |
| Busan부산 | ₩3,137,460 | ₩3,019,605 | ₩1,750,000 – ₩4,053,500 | 3 |
| Daegu대구 | ₩1,553,000 | ₩1,182,000 | ₩440,000 – ₩1,553,000 | 3 |
| Daejeon대전 | ₩3,000,000 | ₩3,000,000 | ₩3,000,000 – ₩3,000,000 | 1 |
| Ulsan울산 | ₩4,000,000 | ₩4,000,000 | ₩4,000,000 – ₩4,000,000 | 1 |
| Chungnam충남 | ₩1,900,000 | ₩1,900,000 | ₩1,900,000 – ₩1,900,000 | 1 |
| Jeonbuk전북 | ₩1,780,000 | ₩1,780,000 | ₩1,780,000 – ₩1,780,000 | 1 |
| Jeonnam-Gwangju전남광주 | ₩2,100,000 | ₩2,100,000 | ₩2,100,000 – ₩2,100,000 | 1 |
| Gyeongnam경남 | ₩3,846,100 | ₩3,846,100 | ₩3,846,100 – ₩3,846,100 | 1 |
Regions with no reporting hospital are left out. Jeonnam-Gwangju is the merged Gwangju–South Jeolla region (since 1 July 2026).
What it is
Corneal cross-linking strengthens a weak, bulging cornea (keratoconus) using riboflavin eye drops and ultraviolet light. It aims to stop the cornea from getting worse rather than to sharpen vision.
What the price includes
The figure is the hospital’s reported procedure fee. HIRA does not state whether it covers one eye or both, so check before booking.
Health insurance
The reported prices are what hospitals charge when the procedure is not covered by National Health Insurance; ask the hospital whether your case qualifies for cover.
Ask at the hospital
각막교차결합술 가격이 얼마예요?
How much does it cost? — gangmak gyocha gyeolhapsul gagyeogi eolmayeyo?
Questions
Is cross-linking the same as LASIK?
No. LASIK removes tissue to change focus; cross-linking adds strength to the cornea and is mainly for keratoconus. People with keratoconus are usually not suitable for LASIK.
About these numbers
- Source: HIRA non-covered medical fees open data (건강보험심사평가원 비급여진료비정보), item SZ6690000, updated 23 October 2026.
- Covers hospitals (병원급: university, general, dental, Korean medicine and other hospitals). Small clinics (의원) report to HIRA too but are not in the open data; their prices can be lower or higher.
- Median, average, lowest and highest are HIRA’s own figures. Hospital counts are the number of hospitals listed for each item.
- US$ amounts are rough conversions at ₩1,326 = US$1 (22 Oct 2026). Your card or exchange rate will differ.
- Prices are what hospitals report, not quotes. Always ask the hospital for a written estimate.