South Korea Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) Health Management Report
Prepared by Pridebay — South Korea’s Leading Lifestyle Research Institute for Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals
Date: March 2026
Version: 1.0
This report, commissioned and released by Pridebay, focuses on the health management behaviors, demands, preferences, and emerging trends of South Korea’s Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs). Based on a six-month in-depth survey conducted from September 2025 to February 2026, covering 320 UHNWIs in South Korea (defined as individuals with a net worth of over 30 billion KRW, excluding primary residence), combined with interviews with 25 industry experts (including private health managers, senior doctors from top hospitals, health industry investors, and wellness brand executives), this report comprehensively analyzes the current status of health management among South Korea’s UHNWIs, explores the driving factors behind their health management decisions, and predicts future development trends. The research findings show that South Korea’s UHNWIs have a significantly higher health awareness than the general population, with health management becoming a core part of their lifestyle. They pursue personalized, professional, and holistic health solutions, focusing on preventive health care, mental health maintenance, and anti-aging management. Meanwhile, the rapid development of the health and wellness industry, coupled with the impact of an aging society and post-pandemic health concepts, is constantly reshaping the health management model of this group. This report aims to provide valuable insights for health service providers, wellness brands, and related institutions to better meet the high-end health needs of South Korea’s UHNWIs, and also to present a comprehensive and in-depth overview of the health management status of this key group for the industry and the public.
South Korea has one of the most developed economies in Asia, with a mature high-net-worth population group. According to data from the Korea Institute of Finance, as of the end of 2025, the number of UHNWIs in South Korea (net worth over 30 billion KRW) reached 12,800, an increase of 8.3% compared with 2024, showing a steady growth trend. With the improvement of wealth accumulation, South Korea’s UHNWIs have gradually shifted their focus from wealth appreciation to quality of life and health maintenance. Unlike the general population, UHNWIs have stronger purchasing power, higher requirements for health services, and more diverse needs, which have driven the upgrading and innovation of the high-end health management industry in South Korea.
In recent years, the global health concept has undergone profound changes. The COVID-19 pandemic has made people pay more attention to health, and the aging of South Korea’s population (with nearly 20% of the population over 65 years old as of 2023) has further promoted the popularity of health management among all age groups, especially UHNWIs. They not only pursue physical health but also attach great importance to mental health and emotional balance, forming a holistic health management concept that integrates physical, mental, and social health. At the same time, the continuous development of medical technology, the rise of personalized health management models, and the popularization of health-related lifestyles (such as light health preservation and anti-aging diets) have provided more possibilities for UHNWIs to carry out scientific and systematic health management.
- Comprehensively understand the current status of health management among South Korea’s UHNWIs, including their health awareness, management behaviors, and spending habits.
- Analyze the core needs and pain points of UHNWIs in health management, and explore the differences in health management preferences among different age, gender, and occupational groups.
- Identify the key factors affecting the health management decisions of UHNWIs, including personal awareness, social environment, industry development, and policy factors.
- Predict the future development trends of health management among South Korea’s UHNWIs and provide targeted suggestions for related industry practitioners and institutions.
A quantitative survey was conducted using an online questionnaire combined with offline interviews. The survey covered UHNWIs in major cities in South Korea, including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Daegu, involving industries such as finance, real estate, manufacturing, IT, and entertainment. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed, and 320 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective recovery rate of 91.4%. The sample structure is balanced in terms of age, gender, and industry, ensuring the representativeness and scientificity of the research results.
In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 industry experts, including 8 private health managers who have long served UHNWIs, 7 senior doctors from top hospitals in South Korea (such as Seoul Asan Medical Center and Severance Hospital), 5 investors in the health and wellness industry, and 5 executives of high-end wellness brands. The interviews focused on the pain points of UHNWIs in health management, the development of high-end health services, and future industry trends, providing qualitative support for the report.
The collected survey data were sorted out and analyzed using statistical software such as SPSS, including descriptive statistics, cross-analysis, and correlation analysis, to explore the relationship between different variables and summarize the characteristics and laws of UHNWIs’ health management. At the same time, the interview content was thematically coded and analyzed to extract core viewpoints and supplement the quantitative research results.
In this report, South Korea’s UHNWIs are defined as individuals with a personal net worth of over 30 billion KRW (approximately 22.5 million US dollars), excluding the value of their primary residence. This definition is consistent with the standards of major international wealth research institutions and is also in line with the actual situation of South Korea’s high-net-worth population.
2. Overview of South Korea’s UHNWIs Group
2.1 Basic Characteristics of the Group
According to the survey results, the age structure of South Korea’s UHNWIs is mainly concentrated in 40-60 years old, accounting for 68% of the total sample. Among them, 40-50 years old account for 38%, 51-60 years old account for 30%, 30-39 years old account for 22%, and those over 60 years old account for 10%. It can be seen that middle-aged UHNWIs are the main force, and young UHNWIs (30-39 years old) are showing a growth trend, reflecting the youngerization of South Korea’s high-net-worth population.
In terms of gender, male UHNWIs account for 72% of the total sample, and female UHNWIs account for 28%. Although male UHNWIs still occupy the main position, the proportion of female UHNWIs has increased compared with previous years, which is related to the improvement of women’s economic status and the increase in female entrepreneurs and professional managers in South Korea.
2.1.3 Occupational Distribution
The occupational distribution of South Korea’s UHNWIs is diverse. Among them, financial industry practitioners (including private banking, investment, and securities) account for 27%, real estate developers account for 21%, manufacturing enterprise owners account for 18%, IT and Internet industry executives account for 15%, entertainment and cultural industry practitioners account for 8%, and other industries (including legal, medical, and inheritance) account for 11%. The concentration of the financial and real estate industries is relatively high, which is consistent with the industrial structure characteristics of South Korea’s economy.
Although South Korea’s UHNWIs have strong economic strength and can access high-quality health resources, their health status is not optimistic due to long-term high work pressure, irregular work and rest, and high-intensity social activities. According to the survey, 65% of UHNWIs said they have experienced symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, and anxiety in the past year; 42% have chronic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes (mainly middle-aged and elderly UHNWIs); 28% have sub-health problems such as cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis due to long-term sitting and lack of exercise. In contrast, the overall obesity rate of South Korean adults reached 35.4% in 2025, a new high since 2015, and the UHNWIs group, although with better health management conditions, still faces the risk of obesity and related chronic diseases due to dietary habits and work pressure.
It is worth noting that young UHNWIs (30-39 years old) are more likely to have sub-health problems such as mental stress, sleep disorders, and digestive system problems due to the fierce competition in the workplace and irregular work and rest. Middle-aged and elderly UHNWIs (40-60 years old) are mainly troubled by chronic diseases and anti-aging needs, while UHNWIs over 60 years old pay more attention to the maintenance of physical functions and the prevention of geriatric diseases.
3. Health Management Behaviors of South Korea’s UHNWIs
3.1 Health Awareness and Attitudes
South Korea’s UHNWIs have a very high level of health awareness. 92% of the respondents believe that “health is the foundation of wealth and quality of life”, and 87% said they have established a “preventive health care” concept, emphasizing early detection, early intervention, and scientific management, rather than only seeking medical treatment when they are ill. This is significantly higher than the average level of the South Korean general population (according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 68.5% of South Korean adults said they are trying to lose weight or control their weight, but the overall health awareness is still lower than that of the UHNWIs group).
In terms of health management attitudes, 78% of UHNWIs said they are “willing to invest a lot of time and money in health management”, and 63% believe that “health management is a long-term and systematic project, not a temporary behavior”. Unlike the general population who often pay attention to health management only when they have health problems, UHNWIs regard health management as a daily lifestyle and integrate it into their work and life. For example, the popularity of “white shops” (morning cafes for dancing and socializing) among South Korean young people has also affected UHNWIs, with many choosing to start their day with healthy activities such as morning exercise and socializing, instead of staying up late and drinking.
3.2 Specific Health Management Behaviors
3.2.1 Regular Physical Examination
Regular physical examination is the most basic and common health management behavior of South Korea’s UHNWIs. 95% of the respondents said they have a regular physical examination habit, among which 72% have a comprehensive physical examination every 6 months, and 23% have a physical examination every year. Compared with the general population (only 45% of South Korean adults have a regular physical examination), the frequency of physical examination of UHNWIs is significantly higher.
In terms of physical examination content, UHNWIs are not satisfied with the conventional physical examination items, but prefer personalized and high-end physical examination packages, including genetic testing, tumor marker screening, cardiovascular function testing, and anti-aging indicators detection. 68% of the respondents said they have done genetic testing to understand their genetic risk of diseases and formulate targeted health management plans. At the same time, many UHNWIs choose to go to top hospitals or private clinics for physical examinations, pursuing professional medical resources and private and comfortable service experience. Some even go abroad for medical examinations and health checks, especially in countries such as the United States, Japan, and Switzerland, which are known for their advanced medical technology.
Diet management is an important part of UHNWIs’ health management. 89% of the respondents said they pay attention to their diet structure and have the habit of rational collocation. Specifically, their dietary characteristics are mainly reflected in the following aspects: first, they pay attention to the quality and safety of food, prefer organic, green, and pollution-free ingredients, and are willing to pay a high price for high-quality food (76% of respondents said they often buy organic vegetables, fruits, and high-quality meat); second, they advocate a light and balanced diet, reduce the intake of high-oil, high-salt, and high-sugar foods, and pay attention to the control of calorie intake. This is in line with the popular “slow aging diet” trend in South Korea, which emphasizes avoiding high-fat and high-glycemic index foods to reduce the burden on the body. For example, some UHNWIs follow the advice of health experts to add lentils and other healthy ingredients to instant noodles and discard high-calorie soup bases;
third, they pay attention to the regularity of diet, avoid overeating and skipping meals, and 62% of respondents said they have a fixed meal time every day; fourth, they are keen on functional foods, such as red ginseng, probiotics, vitamins, and collagen peptides. 78.9% of South Koreans have the habit of taking health supplements, and UHNWIs, as a high-income group, are more willing to invest in high-end functional foods to maintain their health. For example, female UHNWIs prefer collagen peptides and grape seeds for skin care and anti-aging, while male UHNWIs pay more attention to supplements that enhance physical fitness, such as deer antler and ginseng. The South Korean health functional food market is expected to exceed 25 trillion KRW by 2030, and UHNWIs are an important consumer group driving this growth.
Exercise and fitness are important ways for UHNWIs to maintain physical health and relieve pressure. 85% of the respondents said they have the habit of regular exercise, and the average weekly exercise time is 5.2 hours. The types of exercise chosen by UHNWIs are diverse, mainly including high-end and personalized items, such as yoga, Pilates, equestrianism, golf, swimming, and private fitness training. Among them, yoga and Pilates are particularly popular among female UHNWIs (accounting for 65% of female respondents), while golf and equestrianism are more popular among male UHNWIs (accounting for 58% of male respondents).
In terms of exercise venues, UHNWIs prefer high-end fitness clubs, private gyms, or home fitness spaces. 73% of respondents said they are members of high-end fitness clubs, and 28% have built private gyms at home, equipped with professional fitness equipment and personal trainers. According to data from Shinhan Card, from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2023, the number of yoga and Pilates studios in South Korea increased by 90%, and the consumer spending of UHNWIs in these venues increased by 47%, reflecting the strong demand for high-end fitness services among this group. In addition, outdoor activities such as mountaineering are also popular among UHNWIs, who often go hiking on weekends to get close to nature and relieve work pressure.
3.2.4 Mental Health Management
With the increasing work and life pressure, South Korea’s UHNWIs are paying more and more attention to mental health management. 79% of the respondents said they have the awareness of mental health maintenance, and 64% have taken corresponding measures to relieve mental pressure. The main ways of mental health management include: seeking professional psychological counseling (38% of respondents have consulted professional psychologists), participating in meditation and mindfulness training (42%), traveling and relaxing (57%), and developing hobbies (such as painting, music, and calligraphy) (49%).
Unlike the general population who are often reluctant to seek psychological counseling due to social prejudice, UHNWIs have a higher acceptance of psychological counseling and are willing to pay high fees for professional psychological services. Many UHNWIs have hired private psychological counselors to provide long-term mental health guidance. At the same time, the number of psychological counseling centers and psychiatric clinics in South Korea has increased significantly in recent years, with a 44% increase in the number of psychological counseling centers from 2019 to 2023, which also provides convenient conditions for UHNWIs to carry out mental health management. In addition, the popularity of “light health preservation” among young people has also affected UHNWIs, who regard mental comfort as an important part of health management, and often choose to buy functional foods not only for physical health but also for emotional sustenance.
Anti-aging is one of the core needs of South Korea’s UHNWIs, especially female UHNWIs. 82% of the respondents said they pay attention to anti-aging management, and 75% have used anti-aging products or services. The anti-aging methods adopted by UHNWIs are diverse, including: using high-end anti-aging skin care products (68%), receiving anti-aging medical beauty treatments (such as botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid injection, and stem cell therapy) (52%), taking anti-aging health products (such as collagen, coenzyme Q10, and resveratrol) (49%), and participating in anti-aging health programs (such as detoxification, nutrition conditioning) (37%).
South Korea’s medical beauty market is developing rapidly, with a market size of 572.14 million US dollars in 2023, expected to reach 1.14 billion US dollars by 2029. UHNWIs are important consumers of high-end medical beauty services, and their demand for anti-aging has promoted the development of the “re:new-aging” trend, which focuses on cell/tissue repair and regeneration, shifting from short-term skin improvement to fundamental aging management. For example, stem cell-based anti-aging treatments are increasingly popular among UHNWIs, who are willing to pay high fees for long-term and effective anti-aging effects. In addition, UHNWIs also pay attention to the anti-aging effect of diet and exercise, and often choose foods rich in antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients, and insist on regular exercise to delay the aging process.
3.3 Health Management Spending
South Korea’s UHNWIs invest a lot of money in health management every year. According to the survey, the average annual health management expenditure of UHNWIs is 180 million KRW (approximately 135,000 US dollars), accounting for 3.2% of their annual income. The specific spending structure is as follows: medical and physical examination expenses account for 35% (including regular physical examinations, special inspections, and medical treatment), fitness and exercise expenses account for 25% (including fitness club membership fees, personal trainer fees, and sports equipment), anti-aging expenses account for 20% (including medical beauty, anti-aging products, and health supplements), mental health expenses account for 10% (including psychological counseling and mindfulness training), and other health expenses (such as health tourism, health consulting) account for 10%.
It is worth noting that the health management spending of UHNWIs shows an upward trend with age. UHNWIs over 60 years old have the highest average annual health management expenditure (220 million KRW), mainly used for chronic disease treatment and physical function maintenance; young UHNWIs (30-39 years old) have an average annual expenditure of 140 million KRW, mainly used for sub-health conditioning and mental health management; middle-aged UHNWIs (40-60 years old) have an average annual expenditure of 185 million KRW, with relatively balanced spending in various fields. In addition, female UHNWIs spend more on anti-aging and skin care, while male UHNWIs spend more on fitness and medical examinations. According to data from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, foreign patients’ medical tourism expenditure in South Korea reached 7.5039 trillion KRW in 2024, and UHNWIs are also important participants in medical tourism, often traveling abroad for high-end health checks and anti-aging treatments.
4. Core Needs and Pain Points of UHNWIs in Health Management
4.1.1 Personalized and Customized Health Management Plans
South Korea’s UHNWIs have strong individual differences in health status, living habits, and health needs, so they are not satisfied with the unified and standardized health management services on the market. 88% of the respondents said they need “personalized and customized health management plans” tailored to their own physical conditions, work and rest habits, and health goals. For example, UHNWIs engaged in the financial industry often have high work pressure and irregular work and rest, so they need health management plans focusing on stress relief and sleep improvement; female UHNWIs pay more attention to anti-aging and skin care, so they need personalized anti-aging plans; middle-aged and elderly UHNWIs need chronic disease management plans tailored to their own disease conditions.
4.1.2 Professional and High-Quality Health Service Resources
UHNWIs have high requirements for the professionalism and quality of health services. 83% of the respondents said they are willing to pay high fees for “professional and high-quality health service resources”, including top doctors, professional health managers, advanced medical equipment, and high-end health venues. They hope to get one-stop health services, from physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment to health maintenance, all provided by professional institutions and personnel. For example, many UHNWIs hire private health managers who are responsible for formulating personalized health plans, arranging physical examinations and medical treatments, and tracking their health status for a long time. In addition, UHNWIs also pay attention to the privacy and comfort of health services, preferring private clinics and high-end health clubs with good privacy protection.
4.1.3 Holistic Health Management Solutions
UHNWIs’ health management needs are no longer limited to physical health, but pay more attention to the balance of physical, mental, and social health. 77% of the respondents said they need “holistic health management solutions” that integrate physical health, mental health, diet, exercise, and anti-aging. They hope that health management can cover all aspects of life, help them maintain a healthy lifestyle, and achieve the goal of improving the quality of life and extending the healthy life span. For example, some high-end health institutions in South Korea have launched integrated health management services, including physical examination, diet guidance, fitness training, psychological counseling, and anti-aging treatment, which are very popular among UHNWIs. This is also in line with the global trend of holistic health management, which emphasizes the integration of physical and mental health.
4.1.4 Convenient and Efficient Health Management Services
South Korea’s UHNWIs are usually busy with work and have limited time, so they have high requirements for the convenience and efficiency of health management services. 72% of the respondents said they need “convenient and efficient health management services” that can save time and energy. For example, they hope to have online health consulting services, so that they can consult professional doctors and health managers at any time without going out; they hope that physical examination and medical treatment can be arranged quickly, avoiding long waits; they hope that health management services can be integrated into their daily work and life, without affecting their work and life rhythm. For example, some private health managers provide door-to-door services, including physical examination, diet guidance, and fitness training, which greatly saves the time of UHNWIs.
4.2.1 Lack of Professional and Personalized Health Management Teams
Although there are many health management institutions in South Korea, most of them provide unified and standardized services, and there is a lack of professional and personalized health management teams. 68% of the respondents said that “it is difficult to find a professional private health manager who understands their own health needs and can provide long-term and systematic health guidance”. Many health managers on the market lack professional knowledge and practical experience, and cannot formulate targeted health management plans according to the individual characteristics of UHNWIs. In addition, the cooperation between health management institutions and medical institutions is not close enough, and it is difficult to achieve seamless connection between health maintenance and medical treatment, which affects the effectiveness of health management.
5. Factors Affecting Health Management Decisions of South Korea’s UHNWIs
5.1.1 Health Awareness and Health Status
Health awareness and health status are the most direct factors affecting the health management decisions of UHNWIs. UHNWIs with strong health awareness and poor health status are more likely to invest time and money in health management, and have more positive health management behaviors. For example, UHNWIs who have experienced sub-health problems or chronic diseases are more likely to develop regular physical examination, diet management, and exercise habits; while UHNWIs with good health status and weak health awareness may pay less attention to health management. According to the survey, UHNWIs who have chronic diseases spend 30% more on health management than those without chronic diseases.
6. Future Trends of Health Management Among South Korea’s UHNWIs
6.1 Personalization and Customization Will Become the Core Trend
In the future, personalized and customized health management will become the core trend of health management among South Korea’s UHNWIs. With the improvement of UHNWIs’ health awareness and the diversification of health needs, they will pay more attention to personalized health management plans tailored to their own characteristics. Health management institutions will use advanced technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and genetic testing to collect and analyze UHNWIs’ health data, formulate more accurate and targeted health management plans, and provide one-stop personalized health services. For example, through genetic testing, health managers can understand the genetic risk of UHNWIs’ diseases, and formulate targeted prevention and intervention plans; through big data analysis, they can track UHNWIs’ health status in real time and adjust health management plans in a timely manner. In addition, the demand for private health managers will continue to increase, and professional private health management teams will become the core competitiveness of high-end health management institutions.
7. Conclusions and Suggestions
This report comprehensively analyzes the health management status, behaviors, needs, and trends of South Korea’s UHNWIs through in-depth surveys and interviews. The main conclusions are as follows:
- South Korea’s UHNWIs have a high level of health awareness, regard health management as a core part of their lifestyle, and have positive health management behaviors, including regular physical examinations, diet management, exercise and fitness, mental health management, and anti-aging management. Their health management awareness is significantly higher than that of the general population, and they pay more attention to preventive health care.
- The health management needs of UHNWIs are diverse and personalized, focusing on personalized and customized health management plans, professional and high-quality health service resources, holistic health management solutions, and convenient and efficient health management services. They are willing to pay high fees for high-quality health management services, and their annual health management expenditure is relatively high.
- UHNWIs face some pain points in health management, including the lack of professional and personalized health management teams, high health management costs, difficulty in balancing work and health management, and lack of transparent and reliable health information. These pain points affect the effectiveness and satisfaction of their health management.
- The health management decisions of UHNWIs are affected by multiple factors, including personal factors (health awareness, age, gender, lifestyle, work pressure), social and environmental factors (social trends, family and friends’ influence, population aging), and industry and policy factors (industry development, policy support, industry supervision). These factors interact to affect the health management behaviors of UHNWIs.
Total number of samples: 320
Age distribution: 30-39 years old (22%), 40-50 years old (38%), 51-60 years old (30%), over 60 years old (10%)
Gender distribution: male (72%), female (28%)
Occupational distribution: financial industry (27%), real estate (21%), manufacturing (18%), IT and Internet (15%), entertainment and culture (8%), other industries (11%)
Regional distribution: Seoul (58%), Busan (15%), Incheon (12%), Daegu (8%), other regions (7%)
Private health managers: 8 people
Senior doctors from top hospitals: 7 people (Seoul Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital, etc.)
Health and wellness industry investors: 5 people
High-end wellness brand executives: 5 people
1. Primary data: Survey data and interview records collected by Pridebay from September 2025 to February 2026.
2. Secondary data: Data from the Korea Institute of Finance, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Shinhan Card, Arizton, Statista, and other institutions.
3. Industry reports: Research reports
