How to Choose the Right Korean Hospital as a Foreign Patient (2026 Guide)

Because Korean law prohibits naming specific hospitals or doctors in advertising, we cannot simply tell you "this university hospital is the best." Instead, we compare three hospitals that match your cancer type, stage, budget, and language needs within a remote review (pre-arrival review) written opinion, and let you make the final choice.

Key Takeaways

• Under Korean medical law, patient-referral agencies are restricted from advertising specific medical professionals or institutions, so this page does not list hospital names or hospital-by-hospital outcome data.
• Instead, when you request a remote review (pre-arrival review), we compare three tertiary hospitals that match your cancer type, stage, budget, and language needs within a written opinion.
• The review is cross-read by medical staff specializing in the relevant cancer type (surgery and medical oncology) and compiled into a single written opinion. The fee is KRW 1,000,000 (about US$730), which is deducted from your treatment costs if you proceed under a treatment contract.
• The 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers in Korea is 73.7%, and for gastric cancer it is 78.6% (National Cancer Registration Statistics 2019–2023, National Cancer Center Korea) — this is a nationwide statistic, not a hospital-specific result.
• For short-term medical stays, the C-3-3 visa applies (within 90 days); for longer-term treatment and accompanying family members, the G-1-10 visa applies.

Why don't you tell us the name of a specific hospital?

• Under Korean medical law, patient-referral agencies are prohibited from advertising specific medical professionals or institutions. Ranking hospitals or naming them on a public page is itself restricted.
• Instead, only within the written opinion from the remote review will you receive information on your stage, treatment feasibility, recommended treatment methods and expected duration, cost range, and a comparison of three hospitals matching your conditions. Actual hospital names are provided only inside the written opinion.
• If you inquire about heavy-ion or proton therapy, the written opinion will clearly state one of the following: 'applicable,' 'requires further review,' or 'not applicable.'

What is the review process?

• Step 1: Upload imaging (DICOM) files, pathology reports, medical certificates, medication history, and genetic test results.
• Step 2: Organization and translation — your records are translated into Korean and delivered to the medical staff.
• Step 3: Medical review — medical oncology and surgical staff at a tertiary hospital cross-read the case.
• Step 4: Delivery of the written opinion — you will receive the written opinion in your own language within 5 business days from the date all records are complete.
• Once the written opinion is delivered, the service is considered complete, so the KRW 1,000,000 review fee is non-refundable; however, if the hospital exceeds the 5-business-day window, a full refund is issued. If you proceed with treatment under contract, this amount is deducted from your medical costs.

FAQ — Is the high survival rate due to a specific hospital?

No. The figures of 73.7% (all cancers) and 78.6% (gastric cancer) come from the National Cancer Registration Statistics 2019–2023 (Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center Korea) and represent nationwide statistics — not the outcome of any specific hospital or individual. Factors such as early-detection rates also contribute to these figures, so differences in statistics should not be interpreted as a reflection of any individual patient's results.

FAQ — Can I find out the doctor's name or the hospital name in advance?

This information is not posted on public pages but will be disclosed in the written opinion and during the subsequent video consultation. The review is handled by a cross-reading team of medical staff specializing in the relevant cancer type, and the assignment criteria are provided separately. For visa applications, the basis for review is the invitation letter issued by a registered patient-referral agency and the confirmed hospital appointment.

Sources and Notes

• This article was prepared based on the National Cancer Registration Statistics 2019–2023 (Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center Korea), the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Medical Korea guidance for international patient referrals, and HiKorea visa guidelines.
• This content is intended for general medical information purposes only. Diagnosis, treatment methods, and outcomes may vary depending on individual conditions. Accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions should always be made in consultation with medical professionals.