Seoul Asan Medical Center announced on September 11 that it ranked among the world’s top 10 hospitals in six clinical fields in Newsweek’s “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026” evaluation. This is the highest number of top 10 placements among Korean hospitals.
Seoul Asan Medical Center placed fourth globally in oncology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology, sixth in neurology and urology, and eighth in orthopedics. It is the only hospital in Korea to have six specialties ranked in the global top 10, and one of the few worldwide to achieve this distinction.
The hospital also recorded the highest number of first-place rankings in Korea, leading in six fields: gastroenterology, endocrinology, neurology, orthopedics, cardiology, and cardiac surgery.
Newsweek, in collaboration with the global research firm Statista, conducted the “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026” evaluation and announced the final results on its website on September 11.
The evaluation was based on three criteria: an online survey of healthcare professionals worldwide (85%), international accreditation of medical institutions (10%), and the implementation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) (5%).
In oncology, Seoul Asan Medical Center rose from fifth in the world last year to fourth, standing alongside leading cancer centers such as MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the United States.
In endocrinology, the hospital has ranked within the world’s top five for six consecutive years since Newsweek began its evaluations. In addition, Seoul Asan Medical Center received high marks in cardiology (17th), pulmonology (20th), and cardiac surgery (30th).
This year, several specialties saw their rankings improve compared to previous years: cardiac surgery climbed 12 spots, cardiology 7 spots, pulmonology 5 spots, orthopedics 4 spots, neurology 2 spots, and oncology 1 spot.
Earlier this year, Newsweek’s global hospital ranking placed Seoul Asan Medical Center at 25th in the world, the highest among Korean hospitals. The hospital has established itself as a global destination for patients with severe and complex diseases, attracting those seeking hope from both Korea and abroad. Last year alone, approximately 19,000 international patients from countries including the United States, United Arab Emirates, and Mongolia visited Seoul Asan Medical Center.
Not only patients but also medical professionals from overseas regularly visit Seoul Asan Medical Center to learn its expertise in treating critical illnesses. Over the past decade, more than 3,500 medical professionals from 88 countries have trained at the hospital. After completing their training, many recommend Seoul Asan Medical Center as a last resort for patients in their home countries who face difficult-to-treat conditions, further enhancing the hospital’s international reputation and trust.
Park Seungil, President of Seoul Asan Medical Center, stated, “Seoul Asan Medical Center, a leader in treating critical illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, has become a global hospital trusted by patients not only in Korea but around the world. We will continue to advance our treatment systems for severe diseases to ensure patient safety and provide high-quality medical care.”
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