Three KIMA Member Hospitals Rank No. 1 in Nine Specialties in Newsweek’s “Best Specialized Hospitals Asia-Pacific 2026”

Asan Medical Center Tops Five Specialties, Samsung Medical Center Three, and Seoul National University Hospital One, Highlighting the Excellence of Korean Healthcare

Three member institutions of the Korea International Medical Association (KIMA) — Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, and Seoul National University Hospital — ranked No. 1 in a total of nine specialties in Newsweek’s “Best Specialized Hospitals Asia-Pacific 2026,” once again demonstrating the excellence and global competitiveness of Korean healthcare.

The rankings covered healthcare institutions across 11 Asia-Pacific countries, including South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Asan Medical Center Ranks No. 1 in Five Specialties — the Most Among Evaluated Hospitals

Asan Medical Center ranked No. 1 in the Asia-Pacific region in five specialties: Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Neurology, Endocrinology, and Orthopedics.

This was the highest number of No. 1 rankings achieved by any hospital included in the Asia-Pacific evaluation.

Asan Medical Center also achieved strong results in other specialties, ranking No. 2 in Oncology, Pulmonology, and Gastroenterology, No. 5 in Pediatrics, and No. 12 in Neurosurgery, demonstrating excellence across a broad range of clinical specialties.

Samsung Medical Center Ranks No. 1 in Oncology, Pulmonology, and Gastroenterology

Samsung Medical Center ranked No. 1 in the Asia-Pacific region in three specialties: Oncology, Pulmonology, and Gastroenterology.

In particular, Samsung Medical Center has maintained the top position in Oncology and Pulmonology for three consecutive years since 2024. It also ranked No. 1 in Gastroenterology, which was included in the evaluation for the first time this year, further demonstrating its strong competitiveness in specialized and complex medical care.

Seoul National University Hospital Ranks No. 1 in Pediatrics

Seoul National University Hospital ranked No. 1 in the Asia-Pacific region in Pediatrics.

As a result, the three KIMA member hospitals secured the top position in a combined nine of the 10 specialties evaluated by Newsweek.

Comprehensive Evaluation Based on Peer Evaluations, Certifications, and PROMs

Newsweek, in collaboration with global market research and data firm Statista, conducted an online survey involving more than 8,000 healthcare professionals across 11 Asia-Pacific countries.

The final rankings were based on peer evaluations from healthcare professionals, hospital certifications, and the implementation of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs).

Korean healthcare institutions ranked No. 1 in nine of the 10 specialties, with Neurosurgery being the only exception. Notably, all nine No. 1 positions were achieved by KIMA member institutions — Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, and Seoul National University Hospital.

These achievements highlight the extensive clinical expertise and specialized capabilities developed by Korean medical institutions and further demonstrate the high standards and global competitiveness of Korean healthcare.

Source: Newsweek, Best Specialized Hospitals Asia-Pacific 2026