A Full Health Checkup in Seoul in One Afternoon: Chef Rush’s Timeline
Chef Rush flew from the US to Seoul for a full health checkup. Ultrasound, chest X-ray, CT, blood work and a sedated endoscopy took 2 hours 18 minutes in one building, and he discussed the results with the doctor the same afternoon.
Short answer: Chef Rush arrived at Gangnam Wellness Center in Seoul at 1:38 PM and sat down with the doctor to go over his results at 3:56 PM. In between: blood pressure, body composition, ultrasound, chest X-ray, CT, blood work and a sedated endoscopy, all in one building, with an English-speaking coordinator beside him the whole time. That's 2 hours 18 minutes from the car door to the doctor's office.
In the US, a checkup this complete is a project. The primary care visit, the imaging center, the GI referral for the scope. Each is a separate appointment, often weeks apart. Then you wait for the results to be pulled together.
Chef Rush did all of it in one afternoon in Seoul. Afterward he wrote on our post that it was "the best and fastest complete checkup" he'd ever had. Here's the timeline, step by step.
How long does a full checkup take in Seoul?
His took 2 hours 18 minutes, from arrival to the doctor's office. Larger hospital packages run 3 to 8 hours, depending on how many tests are included. See our checkup cost guide for published packages and times.
| Time | Step |
|---|---|
| 1:38 PM | Arrived by car |
| 1:42 PM | Check-in at the lobby |
| 2:35 PM | Changed into a gown. Blood pressure |
| 2:37 PM | Height, weight and body composition |
| — | Ultrasound |
| 2:41 PM | Chest X-ray |
| 2:42 PM | CT scan |
| 2:59 PM | Blood work |
| 3:11 PM | Sedated upper endoscopy |
| 3:38 PM | Recovery from sedation |
| 3:40 PM | Back on his feet |
| 3:56 PM | Results with the doctor |
The longest gap is between check-in and the first test. That's paperwork and changing. Once he was in the gown, the tests ran back to back.
What's in a full checkup?
Seven groups of tests, each looking at something different.
Basic measurements. Blood pressure, height, weight and body composition. Body composition splits weight into muscle and fat, which matters for anyone muscular. BMI alone would call a lot of athletes overweight.
Ultrasound. Checks the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and blood vessels with no radiation.
Chest X-ray, then CT. The X-ray is the quick look. The CT is the detailed one, slicing through the chest so small nodules show up.
Blood work. One draw covers liver and kidney function, cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid and inflammation markers.
Sedated upper endoscopy. A camera looks at the esophagus, stomach and the start of the small intestine.
Why is endoscopy the part Korea does best?
Because Korea has screened its population with endoscopy for decades. Stomach cancer was once one of the most common cancers in the country, so the national screening program offers a scope every two years from age 40.
The result is gastroenterologists who do a very high volume of scopes. For a visitor, that experience is the most valuable part of the day.
His was sedated, so he slept through it and rested for about half an hour after. You'll need someone to take you back to the hotel afterward. On our trips, that's us.
When do you get the results?
The same afternoon, for most of them. At 3:56 PM he sat down with the doctor, who went through the imaging, the endoscopy findings and the early blood results.
Some lab results and biopsy findings take longer. Those come by email in English, and we follow up with the hospital after you fly home.
Hearing it in person is the point. If something needs a follow-up, you're still in Seoul and can book it that week.
Can you book the same checkup?
Yes. A checkup on its own fits in two or three days. With other treatments added, it becomes Day 2 of The Seoul Week.
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Land at Incheon. We pick you up and brief you on fasting. Fasting starts in the evening |
| Day 2 | Checkup in the morning or afternoon, with a coordinator throughout. Results with the doctor the same day |
| Day 3 | Follow-up tests if the doctor suggests any, or a free day. Fly home that evening or stay on |
| We handle | You handle |
|---|---|
| Picking the checkup center and package for your age and history | Flights and, unless you ask us, your hotel |
| Booking the date and fasting instructions in English | The checkup fee, paid to the hospital directly |
| Airport pickup, and a car to and from the checkup | |
| An English-speaking coordinator from check-in to the doctor's office | |
| Getting the full report in English and follow-up questions after you fly home |
What it costs: checkup centers quote foreign patients by package. As a reference, Samsung Medical Center lists its international packages from about $1,340 to $5,870. Each quote comes to you in writing before you book. Hospitals pay us a coordination fee. You pay their standard price.
Planning to add skin or dental work while you're there? See how a creator fit skin, teeth and a tattoo into six days.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full health checkup take in Korea?
This one took 2 hours 18 minutes from arrival to results. Hospital packages with more tests take 3 to 8 hours.
Do you get the results the same day?
Most of them. Imaging, endoscopy findings and early blood results were explained by the doctor the same afternoon. The full written report follows by email.
Is the endoscopy sedated?
It can be. This one was, and he rested for about 30 minutes afterward. You can't drive or go anywhere alone after sedation, so a coordinator or driver takes you back.
Do you need to fast before the checkup?
Yes. Usually nothing to eat from the evening before. We send the exact instructions in English when the date is booked.
Do the doctors speak English?
Some do. A coordinator who speaks English was with him at every step, so it didn't depend on that.
Get free, itemized quotes from 2–3 specialist clinics
Two taps and an email address. We ask clinics run by board-certified specialists for line-by-line quotes and the dates they can take you, and email them to you, usually within two business days. Free, and no obligation.
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This guide is general information for people researching treatment abroad. It is not medical advice and does not establish a patient relationship. Only a licensed surgeon who has examined you can say whether a procedure is appropriate for you.