Best Smart Hospitals in South Korea: Eight KIMA Member Hospitals Named in Newsweek\'s World\'s Best Smart Hospitals 2027

November 2026 | Korea International Medical Association (KIMA)

Eight member hospitals of the Korea International Medical Association (KIMA) have been named among Newsweek's World's Best Smart Hospitals 2027.

Newsweek and Statista's sixth annual ranking recognizes 410 hospitals in 33 countries for their use of digital technology in care and hospital operations. Among them, eight are KIMA member hospitals.

KIMA Member Hospitals in the 2027 Ranking

• Samsung Medical Center
• Asan Medical Center
• Seoul National University Hospital
• Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
• Severance Hospital
• Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea
• Korea University Anam Hospital
• Hanyang University Seoul Hospital

Three Korean Leaders in AI Innovation

Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center, and Severance Hospital received the Leader in AI Innovation distinction, which is new for 2027. It recognizes excellence in the implementation, strategic adoption, and responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Qualifying hospitals had to score at or above the 70th percentile in both peer recognition and AI maturity measures.

What Makes a Smart Hospital?

Newsweek describes smart hospitals as those that integrate tools such as artificial intelligence, telemedicine, robotics, and data analytics into clinical workflows and hospital operations. The ranking is scored on three measures:

• Reputation (67.5%): recommendations from healthcare professionals, with international recommendations weighted more heavily than national ones
• Digital maturity (30%): a voluntary, hospital-reported survey with supporting evidence, certified by senior management
• Digital healthcare accreditations and certifications (2.5%): recognized credentials in areas such as robotic surgery and telehealth

The digital maturity survey covers seven areas, including digital information systems, artificial intelligence, and robotics and automation.

What This Means for International Patients

For international patients considering medical care in Korea, the ranking offers one reference point on how hospitals use digital technology. Newsweek advises that it should be considered alongside other information, so patients should also review their condition, treatment options, and the services each hospital provides.

About KIMA

KIMA is a non-profit association of leading Korean medical institutions that supports international patients. To learn more about these hospitals, visit each hospital's profile on Find Hospitals or contact KIMA through the Contact Us menu.

Source: Newsweek and Statista, "World's Best Smart Hospitals 2027" (rankings.newsweek.com).