Four South Korean hospitals received the highest rating in Newsweek’s “World’s Greenest Hospitals 2026” ranking, with each placing in the top 0.6% globally.
According to the medical industry on July 7, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Korea University Guro Hospital and Severance Hospital each received the highest rating of five leaves in Newsweek’s “World’s Greenest Hospitals” ranking, released the previous day, July 6, local time. A total of 34 hospitals worldwide and 12 in the Asia-Pacific region received the top rating.
Newsweek ranked hospitals for the first time this year based on a comprehensive assessment of environmental performance and related achievements, including greenhouse gas emissions and energy and water consumption, among more than 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Samsung Seoul Hospital and Asan Medical Center were also selected as “Sustainable Infrastructure” hospitals.
In 2024, Samsung Seoul Hospital became the first tertiary general hospital in South Korea to introduce reusable containers at its funeral hall, reducing disposable waste by more than 80%. Last year, it also introduced condolence flower arrangements made entirely from fresh flowers to reduce the large amounts of plastic waste generated by artificial flowers, helping promote more environmentally friendly funeral practices.
Samsung Seoul Hospital has expanded environmental, social and governance (ESG) management across core areas of medical care. The hospital has significantly reduced medical waste in wards and operating rooms and cut wastewater through an eco-friendly hemodialysis system that optimizes dialysis fluid use based on blood flow rates.
It has also continued to reduce the use of anesthetic gases with high global warming potential (GWP), while building a more sustainable medical environment by expanding paperless practices, including the digitization of medication and testing processes and online issuance of medical record copies.
Asan Medical Center established the first ESG committee among general hospitals in South Korea and has pursued initiatives including stronger separation of medical waste, energy-saving campaigns and improvements in equipment efficiency. It has also expanded ESG management across hospital operations through various social contribution programs, including health care for children from vulnerable groups, overseas medical services and the transfer of medical technologies.
Korea University Guro Hospital established its ESG Practice Committee in 2022 and has continued efforts to reduce the environmental impact of hospital operations. It has expanded everyday initiatives to reduce food waste and the use of plastic and paper, conserve energy and promote resource recycling.
Min Byung-wook, president of Korea University Guro Hospital, said, “Medical institutions have a responsibility not only to treat patients’ diseases but also to protect the environment that provides the foundation for healthy lives,” adding, “We will further systematize our eco-friendly management practices and move toward becoming a sustainable medical institution that considers the health of patients, the local community and future generations.”
Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital and Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, both affiliated with Hallym University Medical Center, received four and three leaves, respectively, in the ranking. Hallym University Medical Center declared “ECO Hallym” in 2008 as South Korea’s first medical institution to adopt environmental management and has continued initiatives including investment in eco-friendly facilities and reductions in medical waste.