Asan Medical Center placed six specialties in the global top 10 of Newsweek’s “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2027” rankings—the highest number achieved by any hospital in South Korea.
The hospital’s endocrinology program secured the No. 2 spot worldwide, while gastroenterology and urology ranked No. 5, oncology (cancer) placed No. 6, and both neurology and nephrology ranked No. 9. Conducted in partnership with global research firm Statista, the evaluation assessed 13 medical specialties and published its results on Sept. 17, marking the first year nephrology was included in the global assessment.
Seven-Year Streak in Global Top 10 Across Key Disciplines
Asan Medical Center earned the top ranking among South Korean hospitals across six disciplines: endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, nephrology, cardiology, and cardiac surgery.
In endocrinology, the medical center has maintained a position in the global top five for seven consecutive years since Newsweek began evaluating hospital specialties, with this year’s No. 2 standing representing its highest rank to date. Gastroenterology, oncology, and neurology also sustained their positions in the global top 10 for a seventh straight year. Meanwhile, in its debut evaluation, the hospital’s nephrology program entered the rankings at No. 9.
Outside the top 10, Asan Medical Center placed No. 11 in orthopedics, No. 13 in cardiology, No. 14 in pulmonology, and No. 23 in cardiac surgery.
Peer Reputation and Patient Metrics Drive 83.5% of Scoring
The evaluation methodology blends international peer recommendations with objective quality indicators rather than relying solely on single-disease mortality rates or surgical success figures.
Global medical expert recommendations accounted for 83.5% of the overall score. International hospital accreditations made up 10%, while the remaining 6.5% was determined by the implementation of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)—a framework where patients directly evaluate their pain levels, physical function, and overall quality of life. The assessment specifically measured how systematically hospitals collect and incorporate this patient data into clinical care.
High Clinical Volume and Specialized Infrastructure
Asan Medical Center’s international standing is supported by extensive clinical experience in treating complex, severe conditions.
At its dedicated cancer hospital, multidisciplinary teams perform approximately 18,000 cancer surgeries annually. In gastroenterology, the hospital has completed more than 2.25 million endoscopic procedures since 1989, including a cumulative total of over 150,000 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures for pancreatic and biliary disorders. In nephrology, its Organ Transplantation Center has performed roughly 8,000 kidney transplants to date alongside comprehensive care for end-stage renal disease.
"I believe our continuous efforts to elevate patient safety and clinical quality led to these evaluation results," said Park Seung-il, president of Asan Medical Center. "We will continue to advance a value-based healthcare model built on patient-reported outcomes and patient experience indicators."
