Stomach cancer: how it is treated in Korea

Outcomes — from national statistics

For patients diagnosed with stomach cancer in Korea between 2019 and 2023, the 5-year relative survival rate is 78.6%. Over the same period, 5-year relative survival for all cancers in Korea is 73.7%. These figures come from the Korea Central Cancer Registry at the National Cancer Center; they are national statistics, not the results of any one hospital.

For comparison, U.S. SEER data show a 5-year relative survival of 39.8% for stomach cancer (diagnosed 2016–2022). The gap reflects not only treatment but, to a large degree, when the cancer is found. Korea offers a national gastroscopy screening every two years to everyone aged 40 and over, so a high share of cases are found as early gastric cancer, which is often cured by endoscopic resection alone.

For an international patient this means two things. First, Korean physicians see and resect stomach cancer in very large numbers. Second, your stage determines your outcome more than anything else, so an accurate remote staging review before you travel comes first.

Standard treatment path — by stage

Early gastric cancer that is 2 cm or smaller and well differentiated is treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD): a 30–60 minute procedure under sedation, with discharge in 2–3 days. The stomach is not removed, so eating and daily life continue almost unchanged.

For resectable cancer, surgery is the primary treatment: subtotal gastrectomy for tumours in the lower stomach, total gastrectomy for the upper stomach or extensive disease, both with extended lymph node dissection. Surgery is open, laparoscopic or robotic; laparoscopic and robotic approaches mean less pain, smaller scars and faster recovery, and robotic surgery allows more precise manipulation at a higher cost.

Stage II–III cancer is followed by adjuvant chemotherapy starting within 8 weeks of surgery, or preceded by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. When surgery is not possible, or in recurrence or distant metastasis, palliative chemotherapy is used; first-line drugs are chosen by HER2, PD-L1 and CLDN18.2 testing. Radiotherapy is rarely used for stomach cancer, mainly to relieve symptoms of brain or spinal metastasis.

Cost range — for international patients

Korean tertiary hospitals apply hospital-specific self-pay prices to patients without Korean health insurance. Publicly listed reference prices include a specialist consultation at USD 50–150, PET-CT at USD 1,100–1,800 and stomach cancer surgery from USD 14,000; robotic surgery, stage and comorbidities raise this.

These are reference figures. The actual amount is fixed by the hospital's estimate after the remote review, and we itemise it into tests, surgery, admission and drugs. Interpreting, accommodation and transport are separate from medical fees and appear in the package estimate.

Korean resources that apply

For stomach cancer, Korea's high-volume procedures are two: ESD for early cancer and laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy for advanced cancer. Both are routine in the gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery departments of tertiary hospitals, so waiting times are short.

Particle therapy (carbon ion, proton) is not a standard treatment for stomach cancer, which is why this page does not recommend it; the cancers where it applies are covered separately.

Frequently asked questions

How long until surgery after I arrive in Korea?

Once the remote review has confirmed your stage and operability, we plan for surgery to be scheduled within about 3 days of your arrival tests. The actual schedule is confirmed together with the hospital's estimate.

Can you review the endoscopy and CT done in my country?

Yes. Upload imaging (DICOM), pathology results and reports; Korean physicians read them and issue a written opinion. Any additional tests needed are listed in the opinion.

Do I need robotic surgery?

Not necessarily. Laparoscopic surgery is sufficient in many cases; robotic surgery is chosen when precise manipulation is needed. The opinion explains which fits, based on stage and tumour location.

How is follow-up handled after I return home?

Follow-up and prescriptions continue remotely. From May 2027, Korean law formally permits telemedicine for international patients.

Whose results are the survival figures on this page?

They are national statistics for Korea as a whole, not any one hospital. Hospital-level results are not used in advertising under Korean medical law, and individual outcomes depend on stage and health.