Analysis Report

Nine Clinic Hongdae

In-depth Analysis of Representative Director Go-eun Lee

Casual Beauty Hongdae Aesthetics Director Go-eun Lee

Executive Summary

Institution Overview

Nine Clinic Hongdae opened in October 2024 near Hongik University Station. It's a network aesthetic clinic aiming for 'Casual Beauty', emphasizing reasonable prices and accessibility.

Medical Staff

Representative Director Go-eun Lee, a Family Medicine specialist, previously worked in rehabilitation and pain medicine, now specializing in anti-aging and skin aesthetics.

Major Procedures

Focuses on 'The Mihee Injection' (proprietary), 'Reepot Laser' (pigmentation treatment), and high-end lifting procedures such as Ulthera and Thermage.

Features & Reputation

Offers multi-language support (English, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese) due to Hongdae's foreign tourist traffic. Aims to combine 'factory-type' price competitiveness with personalized care, though waiting times and upselling are noted.

Nine Clinic Hongdae is an aesthetic medical institution located at the key commercial hub of Hongik University Station in northwestern Seoul, newly opened in the second half of 2024. This branch is the third location of the Nine Dermatology network, led by Representative Director Go-eun Lee. Director Go-eun Lee is a Family Medicine specialist who graduated from Chung-Ang University College of Medicine and trained at Asan Medical Center. The clinic's operating philosophy is "Good Results, Honest Prices," focusing on providing popular aesthetic medical services while reducing excessive cost burdens. Reputation analysis shows positive evaluations for procedure effectiveness and staff kindness, but feedback typical of 'factory-type dermatology clinics' is also observed. In particular, it is actively attracting foreign patients by utilizing the geographical advantage of Hongdae.

Director Go-eun Lee's Profile

Director Go-eun Lee

Representative Director Go-eun Lee is the key medical staff of Nine Clinic Hongdae, and her career shows a unique trajectory different from general dermatologists.

Education & Specialist Qualifications

  • Graduated from Chung-Ang University College of Medicine.
  • Graduated from Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health (Master's).
  • Completed residency and fellowship in Family Medicine at Asan Medical Center.
  • Certified Family Medicine Specialist.
  • Active member of the Korean Academy of Aesthetic Surgery & Laser, Korean Academy of Laser Dermatology and Trichology, Korean Association of Aesthetic Medicine, and lifetime member of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.

Career Transition: From Rehabilitation/Pain to Aesthetic Medicine

The most notable point in Director Go-eun Lee's career is the transition of specialization from 'Pain/Rehabilitation' to 'Aesthetic/Anti-aging'. She previously served as the Representative Director of 'Reset Rehabilitation Medicine', active in spine, joint, and pain rehabilitation, and even opened the nation's first pregnancy back pain clinic. Her deep understanding of musculoskeletal anatomy and injection experience from this period are highly likely to have transferred into precise procedural skills for current aesthetic treatments.

  • Former Representative Director of 'Reset Rehabilitation Medicine'.
  • Currently Representative Director of Nine Clinic Hongdae (and previously Yeonsinnae Branch).
  • Leverages anatomical knowledge and injection experience for precise aesthetic procedures.

Media Activities & Awareness

Director Go-eun Lee built public awareness by acting as a mentor for the medical specialty channel 'After the Rain' (Biondi) around 2019-2020. She appeared in content mainly in the rehabilitation medicine area, such as neck/waist discs and posture correction, establishing a positive image of a "bright smile" and "kind explanations," which gives trust to patients in her current aesthetic clinic operations.

Hospital Overview & Operational Status

Basic Information & Location

Nine Clinic Hongdae is located on the 3rd floor of Sangjin Building, 165 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It offers excellent accessibility, being a 1-minute walk from Exit 2 of Hongik University Station, a major transit hub for Seoul Subway Line 2, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, and the Airport Railroad.

Address:

3rd Floor, Sangjin Building, 165 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Clinic Hours:

  • Weekdays (Mon-Fri): 10:15 ~ 20:00 (Night clinic available)
  • Saturday: 10:00 ~ 17:00 (No lunch break)
  • Lunch Break: 13:30 ~ 14:30 (Weekdays only)
  • Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Brand Identity & Facility Features

Nine Clinic operates as a network hospital, with the Hongdae branch being the third. The clinic's slogan is "High-Satisfaction Casual Beauty," aiming to provide popular and accessible procedures at reasonable prices rather than expensive, high-barrier treatments.

Facilities & Equipment:

  • **Skin Diagnosis System (Mark-Vu):** Utilizes a precise device to analyze 12 skin problems through 4 light sources for customized procedures.
  • **Private Space:** Despite high patient volume, it operates single management rooms to protect patient privacy and provide a comfortable environment.
  • **Global Response:** Tailored to Hongdae's high foreign foot traffic, it is equipped with multi-language support systems (English, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese).

Major Medical Subjects & Procedures

Signature Procedure: The Mihee Injection

A representative anti-aging solution of the Nine Dermatology network, mainly performed by Director Go-eun Lee. Its main ingredient is hyaluronic acid (HA), processed into an ultra-low molecular form to minimize side effects like nodules or vascular occlusion.

  • **Principle:** Acts as a 'collagen booster' inducing collagen production within the dermal layer.
  • **Effects:** Natural volume and elasticity improvement for thin and sensitive areas without clumping.
  • **Differentiation:** HA-based, allowing immediate confirmation of effects while aiming for more natural results than traditional fillers.

Pigmentation Treatment: Reepot Laser

Operating the Reepot Laser, high-end pigmentation treatment equipment applying VSLS (Vascular Salvage Laser Surgery) technology to target only pigmented lesions while minimizing blood vessel damage.

  • **Technical Features:** Powerful cooling system reduces pain and increases recovery speed.
  • **Indications:** Specialized for treating intractable pigmentation diseases such as solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, and freckles.
  • **Price Policy:** Uses a strategy to lower the entry barrier for high-cost procedures by operating a 1-time trial price (approx. 249,000 KRW).

Lifting & Petit Procedures

Nine Clinic Hongdae is equipped with a diverse lineup of energy lifting devices and offers a range of petit plastic surgery options, emphasizing precise procedures reflecting Director Go-eun Lee's anatomical knowledge.

  • **Energy Lifting:** Includes Ulthera (Ultrasound), Thermage FLX (Radiofrequency), Oligio, Shurink Universe, and Onda Lifting, emphasizing the use of genuine tips.
  • **Petit Plastic Surgery:** Performs Botox (Domestic/Imported), Fillers (Belotero, Neuramis), and Thread Lifting (Mint Thread).
  • **Skin Booster:** Provides injection procedures for skin regeneration, such as Rejuran Healer and Juvelook, often at reasonable trial prices.

Reputation & Patient Experience Analysis

Positive Evaluations (Pros)

  • **Procedure Effectiveness:** Satisfaction is particularly high for 'The Mihee Injection' and 'Thermage/Oligio' combination procedures, with concrete reviews noting improvements in under-eye hollows or elasticity.
  • **Kind Consultation:** Many evaluations praise the medical staff, including Director Go-eun Lee, for listening attentively to patients' concerns and providing meticulous consultations.
  • **Facility Satisfaction:** As a newly opened clinic, the interior and cleanliness are excellent, and satisfaction with the operation of single rooms for privacy is high.
  • **Price Competitiveness:** The ability to receive procedures cheaper than at other clinics through various events (trial prices, package discounts) is frequently cited as a major advantage.

Negative/Mixed Evaluations (Cons & Mixed Reviews)

  • **Waiting Time:** Complaints are raised about long waiting times even with reservations, a common issue for popular network clinics.
  • **Commercial Approach (Upselling):** There are opinions that the clinic sometimes recommends or suggests additional procedures that the patient does not initially want during the consultation process, suggesting a sales method centered on consultation managers.
  • **Medication Cost Burden:** While the clinic's own procedure costs are reasonable, reviews complaining about expensive medicine costs at nearby pharmacies used with prescriptions are observed.
  • **"Factory-type" System:** Due to its efficiency-driven system, some patients may feel processed mechanically, potentially conflicting with the clinic's slogan of '1:1 personalized care'.

Current Ratings Overview

8.9/10

Gangnam Unni (Approx. 189 reviews)

9.1/10

Modoodoc (Director Go-eun Lee's individual rating)

8/10

Kakao Map (Expertise & Kindness)

Parking Convenience: 3/10 (Public transport recommended)

Comprehensive Analysis & Conclusion

Nine Clinic Hongdae exemplifies a 'Urban Casual Clinic' providing the latest trend aesthetic procedures at reasonable prices. Representative Director Go-eun Lee, as a Family Medicine specialist with a background in rehabilitation and pain medicine, appears to have successfully settled in the aesthetic procedure market based on anatomical expertise.

Recommendations

  • The 20-40 generation seeking both cost-effectiveness and procedure results.
  • Patients wanting improvement in under-eye hollows or natural volume (The Mihee Injection).
  • Patients wanting to treat intractable pigmentation diseases (lentigo, etc.) with Reepot Laser.
  • Foreign patients requiring communication in foreign languages.

Considerations

  • It is better to visit with ample time as waiting times may be longer than the reservation time.
  • A subjective attitude to clearly judge and decide whether a procedure is necessary for oneself during the consultation process is required.
  • Public transportation is recommended as parking may be inconvenient when using a private car.

Core Values

Accessibility Price Competitiveness Verified Equipment

Added with Director Go-eun Lee's meticulous procedure style.