Severance Hospital (Yonsei)
Korea's first modern hospital (est. 1885), JCI-accredited since 2007, ranked among the world's top 50 hospitals — and the global leader in robotic surgery with 40,000+ procedures completed.
Hospital Overview
Severance Hospital is the flagship institution of the Yonsei University Health System and Korea’s oldest Western-style hospital. Founded in 1885 as Gwanghyewon by Dr. Horace N. Allen, it was restructured as Severance Hospital in 1904 with funding from American philanthropist Louis H. Severance. With 140 years of medical heritage, it has an unbroken track record unmatched in the country.
Today, Severance operates 2,437 beds and treats approximately 2.5 million outpatients and 840,000 inpatients annually. The hospital houses 67 clinical departments, 13 specialized cancer centers, 27 specialty centers, and the Severance Robot and MIS Center. Its approximately 2,000 physicians are supported by 5,000 additional staff across the Yonsei University Health System.
Severance has been JCI-accredited continuously since 2007 (five consecutive re-certifications). It placed 40th globally in Newsweek’s 2024 ranking and 46th in 2025, ranked 10th worldwide and 2nd in Asia-Pacific for orthopedics, and was No. 1 in Korean patient satisfaction for eight consecutive years (2011-2018). The hospital holds the world record for robotic surgeries at a single institution — surpassing 40,000 in December 2023.
Specialties
Robotic & Minimally Invasive Surgery
World record: 40,000+ robotic surgeries at a single institution (Dec 2023). Applied across 16 clinical departments. Korea's first and Asia's second certified robotic surgery training center.
Yonsei Cancer Hospital
Dedicated 22-floor cancer facility with 500+ beds and 13 specialized cancer centers. 96% prostate cancer survival rate. Comprehensive care spanning lung, liver, breast, gastric, and more.
Cardiovascular Center
Korea's longest-running cardiovascular program (since 1956). 2,000 coronary operations and 1,300 arrhythmia treatments/year. Heart surgery mortality 2.3% vs US benchmark of 5.8%.
Neurosurgery
First in Asia to use intraoperative MRI for brain surgery. Approximately 4,000 neurosurgical operations annually with advanced neuronavigation and Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
Organ Transplantation
Korea's first successful kidney transplant (1979). Reached 5,000 cumulative kidney transplants by 2022. First pediatric bone marrow transplant (1981) and adult BMT (1982).
Orthopedic Surgery
Ranked 10th worldwide and 2nd in Asia-Pacific by Newsweek (2025). Comprehensive musculoskeletal care including joint replacement, sports medicine, and spine surgery.
International Patient Services
Comprehensive support from your first inquiry to post-treatment follow-up, coordinated by InKoreaNow.
International Health Care Center
Korea's first (est. 1962). Most-visited Korean hospital by foreign patients for 8 consecutive years. Contact: +82-2-2228-5800.
6-Language Interpretation
Full-time interpreters in English, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and Mongolian. Additional languages arranged upon request.
VIP Concierge Services
Limousine transport, exclusive patient lounges, dedicated on-call staff, and fast-track scheduling to minimize wait times.
Country-Specific Desks
Specialized staff managing patients from Russia, Kazakhstan, UAE, Mongolia, and other regions with tailored cultural support.
Dietary Accommodation
Western, Russian, and Halal meal options available throughout your stay.
Smart e-Health Follow-Up
Remote post-treatment follow-up care system after patients return home u2014 plus pre-visit cost estimates within 24 hours.
Why Choose Severance Hospital (Yonsei)
140 Years of Medical Heritage
Korea's very first modern hospital with an unbroken track record from 1885 to today. The depth of institutional experience is unmatched in the country.
World-Record Robotic Surgery
Over 40,000 robotic procedures u2014 a world record for any single institution. Robotic techniques across 16 departments mean shorter recovery and less scarring.
60+ Years Serving International Patients
Korea's first international medical clinic (est. 1962). Multilingual interpreters, VIP concierge, fast-track scheduling, dietary accommodation, and remote follow-up via e-health.
Consistently Top-Ranked Globally
Newsweek #46 worldwide, #10 for orthopedics, JCI-accredited for nearly two decades, and No. 1 in Korean patient satisfaction for eight straight years.