Major U.S. hospitals have demonstrated the competitiveness of American healthcare by ranking among the top in Newsweek’s World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2027 evaluation.
Asan Medical Center in Seoul secured top 10 positions in six different specialties, the highest for any hospital in the country. Samsung Medical Center in Seoul ranked 5th globally in cancer care. Severance Hospital claimed the 2nd overall spot based on its number of top-ranked clinical fields nationwide.
According to healthcare experts on Friday, Asan Medical Center achieved 2nd place worldwide in endocrinology, 5th in gastroenterology and urology, 6th in oncology, and 9th in neurology and nephrology. It’s the only Korean hospital to place in the top 10 for six specialties.
Domestically, Asan Medical Center also topped six fields, including endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, nephrology, cardiology, and cardiac surgery. Notably, its endocrinology department has maintained a top 5 global ranking for seven consecutive years, reaching 2nd place this year – the best performance ever by a Korean hospital in this evaluation.
Asan Medical Center treats over 20,000 international patients annually, specializing in complex conditions like cancer, organ transplants, and heart diseases. It has also trained about 3,500 medical professionals from over 90 countries in the past decade, solidifying its position as a global medical hub.
Samsung Medical Center ranked 5th globally and 1st nationally in cancer care. It has held the top spot in the Asia-Pacific region since 2024, earning high marks for pioneering advanced treatments like proton therapy, CAR-T cell therapy, and precision oncology.
Since opening Asia’s largest single-building cancer hospital in 2008, Samsung Medical Center has continually enhanced its capabilities in treating severe cancer cases, including being the first in Korea to introduce CAR-T cell therapy and operating a proton therapy center. The five-year survival rate for patients treated at the center stands at an impressive 75.4%, among the highest worldwide.
The center also prioritizes post-treatment quality of life. It operates a dedicated research institute studying ways to alleviate physical, mental, and financial challenges faced by cancer survivors. The Comprehensive Cancer Care for Seniors (CCCS) model offers tailored care for elderly patients.
The respiratory department at Samsung Medical Center has also seen significant improvement, climbing to 12th place globally. It has steadily risen from 28th in 2024 to 19th last year, and now 12th. Over 90% of lung cancer surgeries use minimally invasive techniques, including robotic and thoracoscopic approaches. Recent introductions of the Da Vinci Surgical System 5 and robotic bronchoscopy have further enhanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities.
Severance Hospital secured the 2nd overall ranking based on its number of top-ranked clinical specialties nationwide. It showcased strong clinical competence by claiming 1st place in neurosurgery, orthopedics, and obstetrics and gynecology.
Severance Hospital’s orthopedics department reclaimed the top national spot this year after ranking 2nd last year, while also improving from 9th to 6th globally. The endocrinology department entered the global top 10, moving up from 12th to 10th place.
Several other specialties at Severance Hospital, including cardiovascular surgery, cardiology, pediatrics, urology, and oncology, saw improvements in their global rankings. The nephrology department, evaluated for the first time this year, achieved 2nd place nationally.
Newsweek’s evaluation assessed medical institutions from over 30 countries, compiling rankings based on healthcare professional recommendations, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and international certifications across 13 specialized clinical fields.
