How to choose a dermatology clinic at Busan Express Bus Terminal? I have been to both Alive and BTN Dermatology Clinics, and this comparison can save you 3 days of research time.

How to choose a dermatology clinic at Busan Express Bus Terminal? I’ve visited both Alive and BTN Dermatology Clinics, and this comparison can save you 3 days of research time.

To be honest, before going to Korea for skin treatments, I spent a whole week doing research. I identified no less than five clinics near Busan Express Bus Terminal. In the end, due to time constraints, I only went to Alive and BTN. But these two clinics represent two completely different approaches to aesthetic treatments in Seocho District, Seoul—one focuses on “precision anti-aging + injectables,” while the other emphasizes “comprehensive anti-aging + a full range of equipment.”

Today, I’m not going to give some vague generalizations saying “both are good.” Instead, I’ll share my personal experiences during consultations, the actual costs, and my recovery experiences. Here’s the conclusion: If you want excellent injectable results and premium service, choose Alive; if you value a wide range of equipment and great value for money, choose BTN. Want to know why? Keep reading.

1. Background of Alive Dermatology Clinic and BTN Dermatology Clinic: Both are located in Busan, but their approaches are completely different.

Let’s start with their locations. These two clinics are very close to each other—just walk less than 3 minutes from Exit 8 of the express bus terminal to reach Alive’s One Bailey Square building, while BTN is on the 3rd floor of the Lemeian Persitegi Center Mall right across the street. It’s literally just next door, within a 5-minute walk.

Alive Dermatology Clinic targets a high-end, private market and offers a boutique experience. The director, Dr. Seong-roo Oh, is one of the rare “specialized dermatologists” in Korea, holding a master’s degree from Korea University Medical School and having further trained at Samsung Seoul Hospital’s dermatology department. It is said that he performs an average of 500 Thermage treatments and 1,000 hyaluronic acid injections per year, and his Naver rating is 4.94. With both a prestigious hospital accreditation and his specialist status, he enjoys a very good reputation among local Koreans.

BTN Dermatology Clinic, officially named “Brighten,” focuses on achieving a naturally radiant skin tone. Over 70% of its patients are local Koreans. What sets it apart is its wide range of treatment options—including Thermage, European Star, InMode, picosecond lasers, and gold microneedling. The prices are also much more affordable compared to core areas in Gangnam, making it a popular choice as “a cost-effective anti-aging option in Seoul.”

2. Basic information about Alive Dermatology Clinic and BTN Dermatology Clinic

Here is a summary of their basic information for easy comparison:

III. Comparison of service styles: Boutique private dining vs. all-inclusive self-service

This is the most noticeable difference for me; it directly determines the quality of your experience.

Alive gave me the feeling of a boutique private dining restaurant. From the moment you enter, a Chinese-speaking staff member accompanies you throughout the process. First, you are taken to a private room to remove makeup and clean up (each person has their own dedicated room, not an open area), and then a skin check is performed. During the consultation, Director Xu Shengluo will explain each detail based on your test results—such as the elasticity of your skin, the depth of pigmentation, and whether hyaluronic acid should be injected in the fascia layer or the dermis. The entire process takes about 30 minutes, and the staff is very patient.

There is one detail that I think adds a lot: Alive offers the option of respiratory anesthesia. For those who are afraid of pain, a nurse will help you adjust your breathing rhythm, which really helps reduce stress. Moreover, relaxing music is played in the treatment room, and the anti-aging treatments and phototherapy are conducted in separate private rooms.

BTN, on the other hand, is more like an all-inclusive self-service center with advanced facilities. The consultation process is also professional: first, a comprehensive skin assessment is done using a VISIA device, and then the doctor customizes a treatment plan based on the results. However, the overall pace is faster, and there isn’t as much of a “ritualistic” feel. The advantage is that it’s more efficient; if you already know what you want to do, BTN’s process will be more direct.

Another advantage of BTN is that it often offers promotional activities—such as “buy 3 get 1 free” or “referral discounts.” As a result, its prices are more flexible than those at Alive. If you have a limited budget but want to try multiple treatments, BTN provides a better value for money.

Alive Dermatology | Alive Clinic

BeautsGO 認證

📍 291 Panpu-daero, Raso-gu, Seoul, One Bailey Square, 4F
🚇 3/
9 Line Express Bus Terminal, Exit 8; 3-minute wa
lk
🕐 Monday/Friday: 10:00-20:30 | Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00-19:30 | Saturday: 10:00-15:00

✨ Korean version of ultrasound knife, Thermage, hyaluronic acid fillers, and Lijulan treatments

💰 Reference prices for various treatments

Recommended treatments	Reference prices
Korean version of ultrasound knife	Starting from ⩲430,000 won
Korean version of Thermage	Starting from ⩲730,000 won
Lijulan Black Box treatment	Starting from ₩3.5 million

* The prices are for reference only; the actual fee will be based on the day of consultation

📅 Book your appointment at Alive Dermatology at BeautsGO now

BTN Dermatology | Brighten Your Skin

BeautsGO 認證

📍 3F, Lamyang Prestige Center, 287 Panpu-daero, Ruisa-gu, Se
oul
🚇 1-minute walk from Exit G1 of Panpu
Station on Line 3/7
🕐 Monday–Thursday: 10:00–19:00 | Friday: 10:00–20:00 | Saturday: 10:00–15:00

✨ Thermage, European Star, Dual Mode Lifting, InMode, Juvelook

💰 Reference prices for treatments

Recommended treatments	Reference prices
Dual Mode Tightening Lifting	Starting from ₩5.55 million
Lizhu Lan Black Box/Red Box	Starting from ₩4.55 million
Collagen Hydrating Treatment	Starting from ₩7.77 million

* The prices are for reference only; the final amount will be based on the day-of-service quote.

📅 Book your BTN Dermatology appointment now at BeautsGO

IV. Comparison of Expertise between Alive Dermatology and BTN Dermatology: Specialized Versus Comprehensive

Alive — Led by Director Xu Shengluo

Xu Shengluo is a highly respected figure in the Korean dermatology community. He holds a master’s degree from Korea University Medical School and completed his residency in dermatology at Samsung Seoul Hospital. He currently serves as the director of Alive Dermatology. Only 2% of doctors in Korea hold the title of “Specialized Dermatologist” — this is not some casual certification but a formal exam administered by the Korean Medical Association, with an extremely low pass rate.

His expertise lies in injectable treatments—hyaluronic acid, anti-aging injections, and wrinkle-reducing injections, especially his precision in targeting delicate areas. Many customers return for his injection skills, with one review describing them as “as precise as an artist’s carving.” With an average of 1,000 hyaluronic acid injections per year, his expertise is undoubtedly a result of extensive practice.

BTN – Director Shin Seong-shik

Director Shin takes a different approach, focusing more on comprehensive treatments. She also has a great reputation for anti-aging injections and is known as the “Anti-Aging Queen.” She specializes in layered anti-aging techniques, precisely delivering hyaluronic acid and collagen to different skin layers to stimulate collagen regeneration. However, compared to Alive’s focus on injectables alone, BTN’s greatest advantage is her extensive experience operating various devices—including Thermage, European Star, InMode dual-mode, and picosecond lasers—and she performs a large number of these procedures.

Simply put: if you want top-notch injectable results, choose Xu Shengluo; if you need someone who can handle all types of equipment, choose Director Shin.

V. Comparison of Treatment Types and Price Transparency

Both clinics perform well in terms of price transparency, but their offerings and service structures differ significantly. I have compiled the prices of their main treatments into a table:

It’s clear that Alive specializes more in injectable treatments (hyaluronic acid, Jejuラン), while BTN offers a wider range of equipment-based treatments (dual-mode systems, eye Thermage, collagen hydrating treatments). The price difference between the two brands’ Jejuラン treatments is ₩100,000; however, BTN’s white-box Jejuラン eye treatment for ₩250,000 is quite attractive—if you have concerns about eye wrinkles.

Another nice feature of Alive is that if you don’t use up the “youthful face needles” in one session, you can store them in the fridge and continue using them when you visit Korea again. This is really convenient for those who can’t fly to Seoul every time.

VI. Location convenience of Alive Dermatology and BTN Dermatology: Both clinics are located on almost the same street.

This goes without saying—both clinics are situated on Panpoo-daero in Ryeokso-gu, Seoul, and are very close to both the express bus terminal and the subway station.

If you’re on a tight schedule, you could even visit one clinic in the morning and another in the afternoon—both are only about 200 meters apart. But generally speaking, there’s no need to do that; just choose one clinic in advance.

VII. Real User Reviews: Comparisons of Reviews on Naver

I reviewed over 30 reviews for each of two clinics on Naver and summarized the most common keywords:

Common positive reviews for Alive:

• “The jawline became much more defined; friends said my face looked smaller.”
• “Dr. Xu’s injection technique is truly precise; the results look natural.”
• “There is Chinese translation throughout the procedure, so it’s completely understandable even without Korean skills.”
• “After the Opus Gold Micro Needle treatment, I could wear light makeup just three days later—the recovery period was very short.”
• “The prices are clearly listed; there are no hidden fees.”

Common positive reviews for BTN:

• “Many locals use this clinic, which shows that it’s really popular.”
• “There are many different types of treatments, so you can get multiple procedures done at once, which is very efficient.”
• “There are often discount promotions, so it’s much cheaper than in the Jiangnan area.”
• “The doctor will create a treatment plan based on the results of the VISIA test; it’s not a standardized process.”
• “After getting the ultrasound lift and hyaluronic acid injections, my apple cheeks really became more prominent.”

I also saw some reasonable negative reviews: Many international customers mentioned that Alive’s prices are relatively high; another downside of BTN is that it’s usually quite busy on weekends, so you need to book your appointment one or two weeks in advance.

Eight, my final advice: How to choose wisely so you won’t regret it?

Based on different needs, my suggestions are as follows:

Choose Alive if you:

• Primarily want to undergo injectable treatments such as hyaluronic acid, youthfulness injections, or wrinkle-removing injections.
• Value the qualifications of the doctor and prefer a personal consultation with a specialist.
• With a generous budget, I am willing to pay for high-quality services.
• This is my first time getting cosmetic treatments in Korea; I need full-time Chinese guidance throughout the process.

Choose BTN if you:

• Want to undergo multiple treatments and need a clinic with a wide range of equipment.
• Value cost-effectiveness and want to get more for less money.
• Are interested in anti-aging treatments around the eyes (such as Thermage or Lijulan).
• Already have experience and know what you want to do; don’t need much hands-on guidance.

Regardless of which clinic you choose, I strongly recommend making reservations in advance, especially on weekends. For Thermage at BTN and consultations with Dr. Xu at Alive, it usually takes 1–2 weeks to get a spot.

IX. Comparison of reservation methods for Korean dermatology clinics: Why do I recommend using BeautsGO?

Many people ask me how to make reservations for Korean dermatology clinics. In fact, there are several common methods. I’ve listed all my own experiences here:

Both of my families used BeautsGO for their appointments this time, and it was indeed much more convenient—the interface is in Chinese, and all the information about the treatments, the director’s profile, and the business hours is clearly listed, so there’s no need to translate the Korean website myself. Moreover, the confirmation process is very fast; I usually receive a confirmation within 24 hours after submitting the request.

FAQ: Common Questions

Q1: Can I have one treatment at Alive and another at BTN on the same day?

A: Technically, it’s possible, but it’s not recommended. Especially after treatments involving light therapy or injections, the skin needs time to recover, so it’s not suitable to undergo another invasive treatment at another clinic immediately afterward. It’s best to wait at least 3–5 days.

Q2: Do both clinics accept foreigners? What do I need to prepare?

A: Both clinics have extensive experience in serving foreign clients and offer Chinese-language translation services. Just bring your passport; both accept credit cards and cash as payment methods.

Q3: Is the price at Alive really much higher than at BTN?

A: It depends on the specific service. For injectable treatments, Alive is indeed more expensive. However, equipment-based treatments at BTN are also not cheap (for example, eye Thermage treatment costs ₩2 million). Overall, the average price at BTN is slightly lower, but the difference isn’t as significant as you might think.

Q4: If it’s my first time getting cosmetic procedures in Korea, which clinic would be better?

A: If you have no prior experience, I recommend Alive—since they offer personalized consultations, full-time Chinese-language translation, and independent consultation processes, which can give you more peace of mind. If you’ve already done some research and know what you want, BTN will likely be more efficient.

Disclaimer: This article shares personal real experiences. Treatment results may vary depending on individual conditions, and prices are subject to the day’s rates at the clinic. The medical information mentioned in this article is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice.