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About Severance Hospital (Yonsei University)
Severance Hospital, affiliated with Yonsei University College of Medicine, is Korea's oldest Western-style hospital, founded in 1885, and remains one of the country's most prestigious academic medical centres. Its scale (2,437 beds) and academic depth support genuinely comprehensive tertiary and quaternary care across nearly every specialty.
The hospital's International Health Care Center operates as a dedicated facility within the broader campus specifically for international patients, with country-specific coordination desks reflecting Korea's diverse medical tourism patient base from across Asia, the Middle East, and Russia.
Accreditations & Certifications
JCI
Medical Specialties
OncologyCardiac SurgeryOrgan TransplantRobotic Surgery
Languages Spoken
EnglishChineseJapaneseRussianKorean
Awards & Achievements
- Korea's oldest Western-style hospital, founded in 1885
- Among Asia's largest single-campus hospitals by bed count
- Dedicated International Health Care Center with country-specific coordination
- JCI accreditation alongside Korean national quality standards
Honest Assessment: Strengths and Limitations
Every hospital has genuine strengths and real tradeoffs. Here is our editorial assessment of Severance Hospital (Yonsei University), based on published outcomes data, accreditation records, and patterns reported by verified patients:
✓ Genuine Strengths
- Genuine institutional depth from 140 years of continuous operation combined with cutting-edge current medical technology
- Massive scale (2,437 beds) enables exceptional sub-specialisation across nearly every medical field
- Dedicated International Health Care Center with country-specific coordination desks for major patient source markets
⚠ Worth Knowing Before You Book
- Very large campus requires meaningful navigation and orientation time, more so than smaller boutique facilities
- Premium academic hospital pricing sits above Korea's more cosmetic-tourism-focused Gangnam clinics for comparable general procedures
- High patient volume can mean less immediately personal atmosphere than smaller specialist clinics for routine cases
Patient Reviews
Prof. Joh's transplant team gave my father a genuine chance after two other countries' hospitals declined his complex case. Successful transplant, excellent ongoing care.
The International Health Care Center's coordination for Middle Eastern patients specifically made an enormous difference to how smooth this complex journey felt.
Exceptional clinical depth. The campus is genuinely vast — allow extra time between appointments in different buildings.
Doctors at This Hospital
A selection of specialists treating international patients at this facility — ask your coordinator to confirm your specific treating physician during consultation.
Prof. Dr. Jae-Won Joh
Director, Transplant Surgery
Performed over 3,000 liver transplants, among Asia's most experienced liver transplant surgeons with international training reputation.
Prof. Dr. Hyuck Moon Kwon
Chief of Cardiology
Leading Korean interventional cardiologist specialising in complex structural heart disease intervention.
Sample Procedure Pricing
| Procedure | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Liver Transplant (living donor) | $55,000-85,000 |
| Complex Cardiac Intervention | $18,000-32,000 |
| Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Planning | $4,000-8,000 |
| Robotic Cancer Surgery | $16,000-28,000 |
Prices are indicative ranges based on quotes collected as of Q1 2025 and vary by individual case complexity. Request a personalised quote for an exact figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Patients booking through InterHealthTour receive dedicated coordination support from first enquiry through post-treatment follow-up, including accommodation booking assistance, airport transfer confirmation, and translation of any documentation you need for your home doctor. We recommend specialist medical tourism insurance for any surgical procedure booked here.
What to Expect: Your Patient Journey
Most international patients booking Severance Hospital (Yonsei University) through InterHealthTour follow a broadly similar sequence, though timing varies with procedure complexity. It typically begins with a remote consultation — usually video, sometimes a structured written review of your medical records and imaging — during which the treating team, led where relevant by Prof. Dr. Jae-Won Joh or a colleague in the same department, outlines whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure you are enquiring about and provides an itemised cost estimate in writing.
Once you confirm and travel dates are set, most patients arrive in Seoul 1-3 days before the procedure for final pre-operative assessment, blood work, and imaging where needed. Airport transfer coordination and accommodation booking near the hospital are handled by your InterHealthTour coordinator alongside the hospital's own international patient office. Length of hospital stay and total time in South Korea depends heavily on the specific procedure — your coordinator will give you a realistic estimate specific to your case during the quote stage rather than a generic figure that may not reflect your actual treatment plan.
Before discharge, you receive full documentation translated into English (and your preferred language where feasible), covering the procedure performed, medication instructions, and a follow-up schedule. For oncology and cardiac surgery procedures specifically, Severance Hospital (Yonsei University)'s international patient team typically arranges at least one video follow-up consultation after you return home, with further calls available if you have questions during recovery.
Recovery, Aftercare and Staying in Touch
Recovery expectations vary enormously by procedure, and Severance Hospital (Yonsei University)'s care team will set out a realistic timeline specific to your treatment during your pre-operative consultation rather than a generic estimate. What is consistent across procedures booked through InterHealthTour at this hospital is the availability of a discharge summary in your language, a clear medication and activity schedule, and a named point of contact for questions once you are back home — not left to guess whether a symptom during recovery is normal or worth flagging.
If a complication does arise after you return home, Severance Hospital (Yonsei University)'s international patient office can liaise directly with your local doctor, sharing your full treatment records and imaging on request. This kind of continuity is one of the more practically important, if less glamorous, things worth confirming before booking any procedure abroad — ask your coordinator specifically how this would work for your case before you travel, rather than assuming it will be straightforward.
Who This Hospital Tends to Suit Best
Based on the pattern of bookings InterHealthTour has coordinated with Severance Hospital (Yonsei University), patients who tend to be most satisfied are specifically those seeking oncology or cardiac surgery care, comfortable with English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Korean as the primary languages of communication, and who have done at least some independent comparison against one or two other accredited options in South Korea or elsewhere before committing. Patients whose needs sit clearly within this hospital's stated specialties tend to report the most consistent outcomes.
As with any medical tourism decision, this profile is a starting point for your own research rather than a substitute for it. We encourage you to request an itemised quote, ask the specific questions raised in the FAQ section above, and — for anything beyond routine, low-risk procedures — seek a second opinion before travelling. See our medical tourism safety guide for a fuller checklist applicable to any clinic you are considering, not just this one.
A Note on Cost Transparency
Published price ranges from Severance Hospital (Yonsei University), starting from $3,500 for its most accessible listed procedures, reflect quotes collected as of Q1 2025 and are deliberately shown as ranges rather than single figures — the width of that range usually comes down to case complexity, anaesthesia requirements, length of hospital stay, and whether any complications or additional treatment are needed once your surgeon has actually assessed you in person, not just from photographs or a written history. Treat any quote you receive before an in-person or thorough video assessment as provisional. A reputable clinic, including this one, should be willing to explain in plain terms what could move your specific price toward the top or bottom of the published range, and should confirm the final itemised cost in writing before your procedure date, not verbally on the day.
Our Assessment
Severance Hospital (Yonsei University) is one of InterHealthTour's verified partner hospitals in South Korea, selected for its JCI accreditation and the specific strengths outlined above. Request quotes from at least two or three accredited options in South Korea before committing, and use the questions in our relevant treatment guide to evaluate them consistently.
Before booking, request written confirmation of your specific surgeon, exact package inclusions, and the clinic's policy on results guarantees — a reputable clinic will provide all three without hesitation.
This profile was last reviewed and updated by InterHealthTour's medical advisory board in Q1 2025, reflecting current accreditation status and pricing data collected from the hospital directly.
Request an itemised written quote before travel confirming exactly which services — consultation, procedure, medication, transfers, accommodation — are included in your package price.
How We Verified This Clinic
This profile is compiled from publicly available accreditation records, InterHealthTour's own partnership due diligence (facility inspection, credential verification, complaint history review), and verified patient reviews collected through completed bookings on our platform. We do not accept payment for positive coverage — see our How We Earn policy.