Korea University Anam Hospital Department of Urology Celebrates 3,000 Robotic Surgeries

On July 24, the Department of Urology at Korea University Anam Hospital held a ceremony to commemorate reaching 3,000 robotic surgeries. The department achieved this milestone on July 17, becoming the first single department at Korea University Anam Hospital to reach this number.

Since performing its first robotic surgery on July 5, 2007, the Department of Urology marked 1,000 cases in 2019, 2,000 cases in 2023, and has now reached 3,000 cases in 2025.

Professor Seokho Kang has led the standardization of robotic surgery for bladder cancer in Asia, being the first in the region to successfully perform and record the highest number of “robotic radical cystectomy with total intracorporeal urinary diversion.” He established a system that enables the entire complex bladder cancer surgery to be conducted solely using robotic techniques, significantly improving surgical precision. His outcomes have shown excellent results in terms of functional preservation and reduced complications.

Professor Kang is also recognized internationally for advancing robotic techniques for prostate cancer surgeries and serves as an honorary professor at the Global Robotics Institute (GRI) at AdventHealth, University of Central Florida—one of the world's most prestigious institutions for robotic surgery education. Recently, he has also been leading live international telesurgery sessions to train global medical professionals in robotic procedures.

Professor Jisung Shim successfully performed Korea’s first robotic artificial urinary sphincter implantation for female incontinence patients, expanding the field of female urological reconstruction. Professor Mingu Park applied an AI-powered autonomous endoscopic robot for kidney stone treatment, while Professors Taeil Roh and Seongku Yun have also performed complex robotic surgeries for bladder and prostate cancer.