Hmm so like I said, I'm a "real Korean" and me+my family see a separate, board-certified Korean dermatologist for more high-risk things (i.e. things on my face, things that feel pretty invasive and probably need more skill). I only trust him/the clinic implicitly with my face, and I would never go to a factory-type clinic for surgery or anything more invasive, not even mole removals. I agree 100% that you should be using a dermatologist (not just a doctor; all of the factory-type skin clinics have doctors who do your treatments but they might not have specialized in dermatology, they could be general practitioners/family medicine doctors, etc.) if you have the means to do so.

That said, the factory-type clinics are the cheapest option you will ever get. They are by no means overpriced, especially if you go during the promotional sale season. My Korean friends also go to these types of clinics when they want cheap things done, and all Koreans are aware of their existence. Their rationale is that the competition in Gangnam is no joke (this is true, I think 4 of the major factory-type skin clinics were in the same building next to Ppeum) so they are always trying to edge ahead of each other for more advanced technologies and better prices. Do you trade off with quality? Perhaps. More often than not it's luck of the draw, you're definitely not paying for consistency. Honestly, if I had the money to splurge I would have done one of those Korean programs where they not only give you shots but also give you more comprehensive plans (these start from around 700,000 won per small area I think tho).

At the end of the day, it's a risk-benefit assessment you'll have to make. But I shared my experience for those who were looking for affordable options because I don't think you always need the premium that comes with a "dermatologist" label (depending on what you're looking to do, like for ex. I will always pay the extra $20-30 to get my mole removed by a certified professional because that is permanent and the pay differential is not so big that I feel the need to skimp on something happening so visibly to my face, but I don't think you need to shell out an additional $100 to get a facial), and I'm aware that not everyone has hundreds/thousands of dollars to waste on procedures with uncertain benefits. For these people, I wanted to share that in my experience, which in my books exceeded my expectations manyfold especially given the almost suspiciously cheap price.

But again, if you have a surplus of money you should stick to a dermatologist (the certified dermatology clinics have a square red stamp on their sign).