Severance Hospital has maintained its top position in the comprehensive hospital category of the Korean Wellness Index for two decades straight.
The hospital announced on Thursday that it had clinched the number one spot for the 20th consecutive year in this category, jointly evaluated by the Korean Standards Association and Yonsei University.
The Korean Wellness Index is a comprehensive measure of consumer satisfaction, taking into account factors such as health, environmental impact, safety, fulfillment, and social responsibility.
This recognition affirms Severance Hospital’s commitment to not just treating illnesses, but also enhancing patients’ overall well-being and happiness. Hospital officials attribute this success to their 141-year legacy, dating back to Gwanghyewon, Korea’s pioneer Western-style hospital established in 1885, and their ongoing patient-centered medical innovations that have earned public trust.
Marking its 141st anniversary this year, Severance Hospital has been at the forefront of medical advancement in Korea since it adopted its current name in 1904, thanks to the patronage of American entrepreneur Lewis Severance, evolving from its roots in Gwanghyewon and Jejungwon.
In 2005, the hospital unveiled its new facility, prioritizing patient comfort and safety. Nine years later, it launched the Yonsei Cancer Center, consolidating various cancer clinics and bolstering its capabilities in treating complex cancers.
Severance Hospital has consistently worked to reduce wait times, optimize patient flow, enhance doctor-patient communication, and upgrade its safety protocols. The institution is also dedicated to fostering a patient-centric healthcare culture that extends beyond treatment to support patients’ post-treatment quality of life.
The hospital continues to push boundaries in cutting-edge medical fields. In 2023, Severance Hospital pioneered particle therapy for prostate cancer patients in Korea, expanding its treatment scope to include pancreatic, liver, and lung cancers last year. This year, it has further extended its expertise to treat head and neck cancers, sarcomas, and recurrent rectal cancers.
Severance Hospital has also made significant strides in robotic surgery. Since introducing this technology in 2005, it has achieved a world-first milestone this year by performing 50,000 robotic surgeries, the highest number for any single medical institution globally.
The hospital’s commitment to environmental sustainability has also garnered international acclaim. Severance Hospital recently received the prestigious 5 Leaves rating in Newsweek’s World’s Greenest Hospitals 2026 evaluation. Only 34 hospitals worldwide achieved this top rating, placing them in the elite 0.6% of all assessed institutions. In Korea, Severance Hospital shares this distinction with Samsung Medical Center, Asan Medical Center, and Korea University Guro Hospital.