Samsung Medical Center's focus on treating complex and severe diseases has received international recognition once again.
On June 18, Samsung Medical Center announced that it was named the top hospital in three categories—cancer, respiratory care, and gastroenterology—by Newsweek in its '2026 Asia-Pacific Best Specialty Hospitals' rankings, released on June 17 (local time).
The evaluation was conducted by Newsweek in collaboration with the German research firm Statista Inc., which assessed the reputation of healthcare professionals across 11 Asia-Pacific countries, including South Korea, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand. The evaluation covered ten specialties: cancer, respiratory, gastroenterology, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, cardiac surgery, and neurosurgery, with gastroenterology being a new addition this year.
Samsung Medical Center has been ranked as the top hospital in cancer and respiratory care for three consecutive years since 2024. Additionally, it achieved the top spot in the newly evaluated gastroenterology category, marking a significant milestone.
Park Seung-woo, president of Samsung Medical Center, stated, "Our focus on complex and severe diseases and our efforts to enhance the quality of research and treatment have led to this recognition. We will continue to pursue challenges in future healthcare to set new standards in the industry."
Previously, Samsung Medical Center was ranked third globally in cancer care by Newsweek last year. Considering that the top two spots were held by U.S. cancer treatment centers, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center, Samsung Medical Center is recognized as the leading general hospital worldwide.
In 2008, Samsung Medical Center opened the largest cancer hospital in Asia within a single building. It was the first in the country to initiate CAR T-cell therapy and has continuously introduced advanced cancer treatment methods, including precision cancer treatment for patients without standard treatment options.
According to the hospital, the five-year survival rate for all cancer patients treated at its cancer center is 75.4%, which is among the highest in the world.
In the respiratory care field, Samsung Medical Center has been ranked first in the Asia-Pacific region for three consecutive years. Last year, it ranked 19th globally, the highest among domestic hospitals. The center excels in treating all respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease, interstitial lung disease, and post-lung transplant care.
In 2023, the center introduced dedicated surgical robots for lung cancer and established a specialized intensive care unit for esophageal cancer, enhancing the quality of care. It performs over 1,500 lung cancer surgeries annually, with more than 90% conducted using minimally invasive methods such as robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The mortality rate within 30 days post-surgery is approximately 0.1%. The survival rate for lung cancer patients is 65.7%, significantly higher than South Korea's (42.5%) and the United States' (28.1%).
In the gastroenterology category, Samsung Medical Center achieved first place in this year's inaugural survey. It offers multidisciplinary care for esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, and biliary diseases through its gastroenterology, thoracic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, and colorectal surgery departments.
In 2023, the center treated 22.2% of the 3,142 newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients in the country. Of the 245 esophageal cancer surgeries performed in 2025, 219 (89.3%) were conducted using minimally invasive techniques such as robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The mortality rate within 30 days post-surgery and during hospitalization was 0%.
Additionally, the five-year relative survival rate for esophageal cancer patients is 62.5%, significantly surpassing the averages in South Korea (43.5%) and the United States (21.9%). Notably, the five-year relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 24.6%, higher than the rates in South Korea (17%) and the United States (13.3%).
* This article has been translated by AI.
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