Who is Dr. Ko Young-wook, and what is his ONDA Expert Member credential?
Dr. Ko Young-wook is the Medical Director of AUVEL Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, and a board-certified dermatologist trained at Hanyang University Hospital. DEKA, the Italian company that makes ONDA, designates him an ONDA LIFTING Expert Member for teaching the technique to other physicians, and he performs treatments himself.
- Role
- Medical Director, AUVEL Clinic
- Specialty
- Board-certified dermatologist
- Residency
- Dermatology, Hanyang University Hospital
- Manufacturer credential
- ONDA LIFTING Expert Member, DEKA (Italy)
- ONDA treatments performed
- 3,000+
- Invited talk
- “Facial Contouring by ONDA Lifting”, #OnlyByDEKA Bangkok, June 2025
- Trade press
- Two-part Hands-On feature, Medical Aesthetic News, July 2025
Training and the specialist step
Dr. Ko graduated with honors from Hanyang University College of Medicine. He then did his internship and his dermatology residency at Hanyang University Hospital.
The residency is the part that turns a licensed doctor into a dermatologist. In Korea the board-certified title belongs to a doctor who completed that training and passed the board examination held by the Korean Dermatological Association, recognized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. A sign reading “dermatology” on a clinic door does not tell you the same thing.
- Honors graduate, Hanyang University College of Medicine
- Internship, Hanyang University Hospital
- Dermatology residency, Hanyang University Hospital
- Member, Korean Dermatological Association
- Member, Korean Association of Dermatologists
- Member, Korean Society for Clinical Dermatologic Treatment
- Member, Korean Society for Skin Anti-aging
Where he practiced before AUVEL
Before becoming Medical Director of AUVEL Clinic, he was Medical Director at Mellow Dermatology Sinsa and at Mellow Dermatology Gangbuk. Earlier still he headed the dermatology department at the ROK Armed Forces Pocheon Hospital.
Those are the roles his published profile lists. We have not added anything to them here.
What DEKA's designation actually says
ONDA is made by DEKA (E.L.E.N.) in Italy. The company designates Dr. Ko an ONDA LIFTING Expert Member, and the stated reason is specific: passing the technique on and contributing to clinical training for other ONDA users. In other words, it recognizes teaching. It has nothing to do with sales volume.
In June 2025 he gave a talk titled “Facial Contouring by ONDA Lifting” at #OnlyByDEKA in Bangkok, an event held alongside the IMCAS Asia congress. A month later the trade publication Medical Aesthetic News ran his ONDA technique for the double chin as a two-part Hands-On feature written for doctors.
By the clinic's count he has performed more than 3,000 ONDA treatments.
What that means if you are the patient
A doctor who teaches a device to other doctors has usually thought hard about when not to use it. His page on this site puts it plainly: laxity happens in layers, and which device suits you depends on which layer moved. Sometimes the answer is a different treatment, or none.
At AUVEL Clinic every treatment is performed one-to-one directly by a board-certified dermatologist. With Dr. Ko that means he examines your skin, decides the plan and holds the handpiece himself. There is no counselor with a menu between you and him.
The clinic's stated approach is to treat the root problem without overtreatment or unnecessary procedures. Expect the list to get shorter at the consultation, not longer.
Seeing him in Seoul
Dr. Ko works from AUVEL Clinic on the 12th floor of 138 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, which is a minute's walk from Exit 1 of Sinsa Station. If you are writing from abroad, WhatsApp is where English questions go; send what bothers you and the dates you will be in Seoul.
His full page, with the documents behind each credential, is at /en/onda.
- 12F, 138 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul · Sinsa Station Exit 1
- Weekdays 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM · Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Lunch 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · Closed Sundays and public holidays
- WhatsApp +82 10-5924-4401 · Clinic line +82 2-548-5007
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr. Ko Young-wook a board-certified dermatologist?
Yes. He completed his dermatology residency at Hanyang University Hospital after graduating with honors from Hanyang University College of Medicine, and is a member of four Korean dermatology societies.
What is an ONDA LIFTING Expert Member?
It is a designation from DEKA, the Italian manufacturer of ONDA. In Dr. Ko's case the stated reason is his contribution to teaching the technique and to clinical training for other ONDA users.
Where has he presented his ONDA work?
At #OnlyByDEKA in Bangkok in June 2025, held alongside IMCAS Asia, with a talk titled “Facial Contouring by ONDA Lifting”. Medical Aesthetic News also published his double-chin technique as a two-part feature in July 2025.
Will Dr. Ko perform my treatment himself?
At AUVEL Clinic every treatment is performed one-to-one directly by a board-certified dermatologist. If you are seeing Dr. Ko, he examines you, decides the plan and performs it.
Does he only do ONDA?
No. ONDA is where his manufacturer credential comes from, but the consultation starts from your concern rather than a device. If another treatment, or no treatment, fits better, that is what he will tell you.