Asan Medical Center

"The staff in the emergency room were all extremely helpful, professional, and friendly. Highly recommend for their awesome services! One of the patrol guys was super nice and went extra miles to help us booked a venti taxi as foreigners can't really book a 5 pax car. So thankful to meet someone so nice in our journey 💓 Great food selection in this hospital. They even have nasi goreng (Malaysia fried rice) here lol feels like home. The only slightly bad experience was the receptionists can't speak English/Chinese, but it's their attitude that disgust us the most. One of the lady receptionists rolled her eyes on me when I speak English. I don't think that's the best way to treat anyone esp in a professional setting. To Asan Management, please train your receptionists to be more professional in attending patients/visitors enquiries."

"I did my comprehensive medical exam here in the International section for foreigners. I was deciding between Samsung hospital and chose this one. I chose the cancer specialised check up and paid 2,650,000 won for them to test everything including the colonoscopy and endoscopy under sedation. Facilities were nice and staff are very nice. Scheduling was a breeze and I understood everything. I learned a lot from this exam and recommend it to everyone. The only caveat is that the person who did the ultrasound on my thyroid rushed it and told me I would get the results later. Later in my review, it said nothing was found, though an ultrasound in the US just few months ago showed something. Also, I had filled out the questionnaire with my concerns highlighted but it was apparent no one looked at that. What is the point of sending us a long questionnaire to fill out if they will only review certain generic questions on it and disregard the part where we voice our real concerns? Finally my summarised visit with a young female doctor at the end was also a bit disappointing. There were some alarming findings but she brushed off some of these concerns and most of the results said to retest in one year. I have decided to follow up some of the concerns at Samsung hospital (I have been there before). The facilities are nice and it was overall a pleasant experience, though it is not perfect. They have so many patients lined up for this test and are herding them through as fast as they can. You may not get looked at properly and will need to speak up if you feel it is being rushed. Koreans have a tendency to do things very fast and that is where quality becomes compromised. Oh and I forgot! They had a young gal who was being trained put the needle port into my hand and it hurt immensely. Later when going in for my colonoscopy and the medication was inserted into that iv port- it hurt so much, I screamed out in pain. I believe the port was put in improperly. They did not stop and kept inserting the medication and I just cried out and out until they finished. It was very painful and felt an eternity. My hand was bruised and sore for days after the test ended. I plan to do this same test over at Samsung hospital in the future and will compare the experience. Edit: They rechecked the spot found in the US after I explained my thyroid ultrasound exam was rushed. The doctor just checked the exact place where the US findings indicated the spot was, acted very dismissive of it and had an annoyed attitude. She did not try to do a thorough job of checking anything else. Except for this doctor, everyone else I came in contact with was very kind and helpful. Most everyone speaks a very good level of English and many of the staff are fluent in various languages. Edit: I have been following up at another large hospital, which I believe to be superior. The doctor reordered tests on some of the alarming results and explained them to me thoroughly, whereas the young female doctor at Asan did not really explain anything to me in detail, just to say I should retest."

"I had a specific reason for taking my parents to Asan Hospital, and they took the train to get there. But the first thing the doctor said after seeing the patient was, ‘Why bother coming here when there are hospitals near your place?’ That was just ridiculous, unbelievable, and I'm deeply offended. Is that really something a doctor should say to patients seeking treatment? So this is the level of this hospital, huh? I hope patients stop coming here, just as they seem to want."

"ASAN Medical Center is a leader in research and medical care. I was unable to get medical help here in the United States due to a lack of professionalism and discrimination. After, two years of research and a business trip to South Korea, I learned about ASAN Medical Center. I knew through research that they were the best in the world and I was determined to seek answers for my condition. It took 3 months but I was elated when Professor Ko ( who specializes in Gastric cancer, Robotic Surgery, Bariatric, and Metabolic Surgery, Hernia Surgery) was assigned to my case. In December of 2023, I was traveling again to South Korea and spent a week going through a plethora of tests. I was in awe of the care, and respect as a patient which I received, and the best part was Dr. Ko took the time to explain to me in detail what was discovered and the next steps. I remember crying alone on New Year's Day in my hospital room, for the first time there was hope. In 2024, I underwent 2 successful surgeries. In the United States, after the surgeon performs the surgery you never see nor hear from them. Getting access is impossible! Not at ASAN Medical Center. I saw Dr. Ko and Dr. Yoo every day and the rest of the medical team including the head nurse. My wounds were cleaned constantly by a wound care nurse, I had nurses every hour to 2 hours to check-in, and the International Nurse, Nurse Park checked on me daily. I also had the honor of working with a phenomenal nutritionist who is still instrumental in how I eat. I was never made to feel alone given that I was far away from home and going through a scary process by myself. I was treated as a human being for the first time and was never treated differently because of the color of my skin. As a patient at ASAN Medical Center, the patient matters. I had real conversations with my surgeons, I was not only healing physically but mentally and spiritually. I was given a second chance, a chance to live, a chance to be healthy, and a new journey to become better than before. I was so sad when I was leaving. However, I was provided with the tools to keep healing. I encourage everyone to think outside the box and seek other options. ASAN Medical Center was my best option and can be yours too. Now, I plan to travel to South Korea to ASAN Medical Center every year for my follow-ups and annuals. I will never trust anyone else with my health. Dr. Ko is a genius. There are no words to describe his incredible mind and brilliance. Dr. Yoo is not an ordinary surgeon, his phenomenal approach to patient care and his tireless efforts in ensuring that his patients succeed is phenomenal. They are both my rock throughout this process. I was blessed to have a great team and you can too. Never lose hope especially when you feel you cannot go on anymore. Keep fighting! ASAN Medical Center is far more advanced in technology, patient care, research, and professionalism than any hospital I have been to. Thank you, Professor Ko, Dr. Yoo, Nurse Park, the nurses, the staff, International Department! I highly recommend ASAN Medical Center to every patient. Seek the International Center-Nurse Jenny Park is the best! If you have similar needs to me, I highly recommend Dr. Ko and Dr. Yoo."

"This clinic gave me two pieces of medically incorrect and unsafe guidance. As a muscular 5’7 male, I was told to drop to 140 pounds, which is well below any healthy evidence based range for my body type. I was also told that my wife and I needed HPV vaccination despite more than ten years of strict monogamy and no STI history, using explanations that contradict basic virology. HPV does not spontaneously appear, does not reactivate without prior infection, and cannot be newly transmitted inside a long term closed monogamous relationship. If HPV had existed in either of us at any point, it would have shown up years ago. Based on the quality of medical reasoning I experienced, it is my opinion that this doctor should be removed from the facility and reviewed by the licensing board, because the advice I received did not meet safe or acceptable medical standards."