Orthodontic Care in Seoul for Patients from Australia and New Zealand
Quick answer
Australians and New Zealanders living in Seoul can receive orthodontic care in English at Isu Yonsei Baro Orthodontics. Dr. Sally Lee is a Korean government-certified orthodontic specialist, the local equivalent of seeing a registered specialist orthodontist at home. She provides English receipts and doctor's letters for insurance claims and prepares records for continuity with an orthodontist at home.
Specialist orthodontists at home and in Korea
In Australia and New Zealand, patients can check whether a practitioner is registered as a specialist orthodontist, as distinct from a general dentist who offers some orthodontic treatment. Korea draws the same distinction through national certification: orthodontic specialists complete specialty training and are certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Dr. Lee is a certified orthodontic specialist with a PhD in Orthodontics from Yonsei University, a clinical professor at Yonsei University College of Dentistry, and a Fellow of the World Federation of Orthodontists. She also completed her orthodontic residency at Severance Hospital in Seoul.
Private health insurance and claims
Many Australians are used to claiming orthodontics through private extras cover, often with waiting periods and annual or lifetime limits. New Zealanders may hold private policies with their own rules. Whether any of these apply to treatment in Korea depends on the policy, and many domestic policies are designed for care at home. We cannot tell you what your insurer will pay, so check with your insurer or expat health provider before starting.
The clinic provides English receipts, itemized statements, medical certificates and doctor's letters for any claim you make.
Timing around a return home
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment typically takes roughly 12 to 30 months with regular visits. The long flight home means an emergency trip back to Seoul is not practical, so it helps to plan carefully if you might return before finishing:
- Tell Dr. Lee your expected return date at the first visit.
- Contact an orthodontist at home early about accepting a transfer case.
- Ask for a complete English record set: scans, imaging, the treatment plan and progress notes.
Your orthodontist at home will make their own assessment and set their own plan and fees.
What to expect at Isu Yonsei Baro
The first visit takes about 60 minutes. The clinic uses digital intraoral scanning instead of impression putty, plus 3D CBCT imaging, a 3D facial scan and photos. Dr. Lee examines your teeth, bite and jaw and explains findings and options in English. You receive a written estimate before deciding.
Dr. Lee treats each patient personally from consultation through retention, with attention to whole-face balance as well as the bite. In Dr. Lee's practice, patients with a firm return date often prefer to agree on the transfer plan at the start, so both orthodontists know what stage treatment should reach.
Treatment options
The clinic offers Invisalign, Angel Aligner, metal, ceramic and lingual braces, limited front-teeth treatment, adult and children's orthodontics, and re-treatment. Suitability is decided after examination.
Practical notes
The clinic is at 4F Bangbae Yedain Plaza, Seocho-gu, at Isu Station (Lines 4 and 7) Exit 2. Hours are Mon and Thu 1–9 PM, Tue and Fri 10 AM–7 PM, and Sat 9 AM–2 PM. Contact by WhatsApp or email works well across time zones.
Individual results and side effects vary; treatment is decided after examination.
At a glance
- Korean specialist certification from the Ministry of Health and Welfare
- Fellow, World Federation of Orthodontists
- English receipts, itemized statements and doctor's letters
- Complete English records for an orthodontist at home
- Saturday morning and weekday evening appointments
Your orthodontist
Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee, DDS, PhD
- MOHW-certified orthodontic specialist
- PhD in Orthodontics, Yonsei University; Severance Hospital residency
- Member, Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists
- 2026 AJO-DO peer reviewer
- Consults in fluent English and treats you herself, start to finish
Isu Station Exit 2 · 1-minute walk
Mon & Thu until 9 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM
+82 2-592-2080
Frequently asked questions
Will my Australian extras cover pay for orthodontics in Korea?
That depends on your policy. Many domestic extras policies are designed for care at home, but rules vary. Check with your insurer before starting. The clinic provides English receipts, itemized statements, medical certificates and doctor's letters for any claim you submit.
Is a Korean orthodontic specialist like a registered specialist at home?
Both systems separate specialist orthodontists from general dentists. In Korea, specialists are certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Dr. Lee holds this certification, a PhD in Orthodontics from Yonsei University, and is a Fellow of the World Federation of Orthodontists.
What if I move back home halfway through treatment?
Share your expected return date at the first visit so the plan can account for it. The clinic prepares complete English records for an orthodontist at home. Contact a practice early; they will make their own assessment and set their own plan and fees.
Can I message the clinic from Australia or New Zealand before I arrive?
Yes. You can contact the clinic in English by WhatsApp or email, which suits different time zones. Share your arrival dates, your concerns and any previous orthodontic records so the first visit can be planned in advance.
Related reading
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Individual results and side effects vary; treatment is decided after an in-person examination. See our editorial and medical review policy .
Talk to Dr. Lee in English
Send your concern and preferred dates. You'll get an examination, your options, a timeline and a written estimate before you decide anything.