What Is Samsung Medical Center?
Samsung Medical Center (SMC) opened in 1994 in the Gangnam district of Seoul with a single stated aim: to redefine what a Korean hospital could be. Thirty years later, it has largely delivered on that. SMC ranked first in Korea and 26th globally in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2026, and first in Asia and third globally in Newsweek’s World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026 for oncology.
For international patients, that ranking translates into something concrete: For cancer patients especially, Samsung is the first name that comes up. Treatment outcomes vary widely between institutions — and SMC’s data shows why it matters.
Since 1995, SMC’s International Healthcare Center has delivered care to patients from over 120 countries. The infrastructure for international patients here is among the most developed of any hospital in Korea, built over three decades of managing complex cases from across Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Samsung is one of Korea’s Big 5 university hospitals —
read our overview of all five here.
What Samsung Medical Center Is Known For
SMC’s reputation internationally rests on a few areas where it has consistently outperformed peers — not just in Korea, but globally.
Cancer treatment is the clearest strength. Samsung Medical Center has maintained its number one position in cancer in the Asia-Pacific Newsweek rankings for three consecutive years since 2024. Within oncology, the results on specific cancer types are striking: for esophageal cancer, the five-year relative survival rate reaches 62.5%, compared to the Korean average of 43.5% and the US average of 21.9%. For pancreatic cancer, the five-year survival rate is 24.6%, higher than both the Korean average of 17% and the US average of 13.3%.
Gastroenterology is an emerging strength internationally. Samsung ranked first in Asia-Pacific for gastroenterology in Newsweek’s 2026 evaluation — the first year this specialty was included in the assessment.
Cardiovascular and neurological care runs through SMC’s Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, which integrates internal medicine, surgery, radiology, intensive care, and pediatrics into a single coordinated system — designed around the idea that cardiac and neurological patients need seamless transitions between departments, not referrals between silos.
Robotic and minimally invasive surgery is a significant part of SMC’s surgical profile. Samsung Medical Center has reached a milestone of 20,000 robotic surgeries, with eight robotic surgical systems currently installed. In 2023, SMC ranked ninth globally in robotic surgery volume.
Proton therapy is available for patients with brain tumors, pediatric cancers, liver cancer, and lung cancer — a treatment modality that remains rare even among major international hospitals.
The International Healthcare Center (IHC)
SMC’s International Healthcare Center opened in September 1995 and operates as a dedicated clinic exclusively for international patients, acting as the central care coordination hub throughout each patient’s treatment journey.
The IHC offers complete primary care including preventive services, chronic condition management, and specialist referrals. For patients with complex conditions, primary care physicians at the IHC assess the case and develop a tailored treatment plan in collaboration with the patient before routing them to the appropriate specialist department.
IHC staff are fluent in English and Korean, with additional translation services available in Arabic, Russian, Mongolian, and Chinese. For Southeast Asian patients, interpretation support should be confirmed at the time of booking — availability varies by language.
The IHC coordinates referrals to more than 800 specialists across 40 departments at SMC. For international patients, this means you don’t need to navigate SMC’s internal structure independently — the IHC handles routing based on your condition and the appropriate specialist availability.
One practical note: since October 2023, the IHC has been operating on the 5th floor of the SMC Proton Therapy Center. If you visited SMC before that date, the location has changed.
Video Consultations Before You Travel
SMC offers video consultations connecting overseas patients with SMC physicians and their local doctors, available after evaluation by the medical team. This option is particularly useful for patients who want a specialist’s assessment before committing to travel — especially for complex cases where the right department or treatment pathway isn’t immediately obvious.
For patients in Southeast Asia or Chinese-speaking regions, initiating a video consultation before booking flights is worth the extra step. It prevents the frustrating scenario of arriving only to find you need more preparation — or a different specialist entirely.
How to Book as an International Patient
Contact the IHC directly by email or phone to initiate the process. When submitting your initial inquiry, include as much clinical detail as possible — diagnosis, current symptoms, medical history, imaging results, and any prior treatment. The more complete the picture, the faster the IHC can match your case to the right specialist and provide a preliminary cost estimate.
- IHC Email: ihc@samsung.com
- IHC Phone: +82-2-3410-0200
For health screening packages, SMC offers a range of programs from targeted cancer screening to comprehensive executive checkups. These can be arranged through the IHC and completed within one to two days, making them practical for patients combining medical care with a trip to Seoul. Before traveling, review our Korea Medical Visa Guide for a full breakdown of C-3-3 and G-1-10 visa options.
Insurance and Direct Billing
SMC has direct billing arrangements with a wide range of international insurers including TRICARE, CIGNA International, AETNA International, BUPA International, United Healthcare International, HTH Worldwide, GBG Tiecare, and others. Patients with coverage through these plans can receive cashless treatment without paying upfront and waiting for reimbursement.
For patients without insurance coverage, or whose plan isn’t on the direct billing list, full payment is required before or at the time of treatment. The IHC can provide cost estimates in advance — requesting one early in the process is advisable for longer or more complex treatment plans.
Getting to Samsung Medical Center
SMC is located in Gangnam, the medical and commercial center of southern Seoul.
- Address: 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- By subway: Line 3 (Orange Line) → Irwon Station (이원역), Exit 1
- From Incheon Airport: approximately 60–70 minutes by taxi or airport limousine bus
The Gangnam location puts SMC close to a range of accommodation options, from international hotel chains to longer-stay serviced apartments — an advantage for patients and families managing treatment over several weeks.
Is Samsung Medical Center Right for You?
SMC is consistently the first recommendation for patients with cancer — particularly gastrointestinal cancers, lung cancer, and cases where minimally invasive or robotic surgical options are a priority. The outcomes data backs this up in a way that’s rare even among top-tier hospitals globally.
For cardiovascular patients, neurological cases, and patients seeking high-end health screening, SMC is equally well-positioned. The integrated specialist structure and IHC’s coordination role make it a strong fit for patients who need multiple departments involved in their care.
If your need is more routine — a single consultation, a basic health check, or an elective procedure that doesn’t require specialist surgical volume — SMC may feel larger and more operationally complex than necessary. The hospital is optimized for complex, high-acuity cases. If you’re also considering Asan Medical Center, our complete guide covers what sets the two hospitals apart.
Start Planning Your Visit to Samsung Medical Center
If you’re weighing Samsung Medical Center against other options, or want help understanding whether it’s the right fit for your condition, feel free to reach out. We’re happy to help you navigate the process from overseas.
