samsungbalance clinic
| Republic of Korea | Thailand | Turkey | |
| TransArterial MicroEmbolization (TAME) | - | from AUD $8,057 | - |
| Total Knee Replacement (Arthroplasty) | - | from AUD $10,743 | - |
| Genicular Artery Embolization | - | from AUD $7,256 | - |
| Arthroscopy | - | - | from AUD $3,347 |
Dr. Lee Dongyeop is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in arthroscopy and joint replacement. He performs arthroscopic surgery (joint endoscopy) and total knee replacement. He treats shoulder disorders, sports injuries, and chronic knee conditions.
Credentials: M.D.-Ph.D. combined program, The Catholic University of Korea Graduate School of Medicine. Internship and orthopedic surgery residency, The Catholic University of Korea Catholic Medical Center. Clinical Instructor (fellow), Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea.
Dr. Kim Joo Young is an orthopedic surgeon at Samsung Balance Clinic in Seoul. He specializes in regenerative treatments and joint reconstruction. Dr. Kim served as the director of orthopedic surgery for the Iraq Peacekeeping Division. He treats complex conditions like knee osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, and frozen shoulder.
Dr. Yang Yeongjun is an orthopedic surgeon focused on joint care and arthroscopy. He treats knee and shoulder disorders and performs arthroscopic surgery and joint replacement (arthroplasty). He also manages trauma and sports conditions, including sports injuries, foot and ankle problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fractures.
He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Catholic Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship at Catholic Medical Center St. Paul’s Hospital. He is a full member of the Korean Arthroscopy Society, the Korean Knee Society, and the Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society.
Knee osteoarthritis outcomes in South Korea improve through weight management, low-impact exercise, and posture correction. Specialists focus on quadriceps strengthening and avoiding traditional floor-sitting habits. Integrating Korean medicine, such as acupuncture, helps manage pain during recovery. These habits reduce mechanical stress on degenerative joints and support long-term mobility.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Leading South Korean hospitals like Leadheal Hospital and NAEUN Hospital serve over 40,000 to 500,000 patients annually. This massive volume allows specialists like Dr Tae Kyun Kim, who has 16,000 knee surgery cases, to refine rehabilitation protocols. These combine surgery with specific Korean physical therapies. This high-volume experience leads to highly tailored lifestyle plans. Australian patients might not find these in lower-volume clinics.
Patient Consensus: Patients in South Korea emphasise daily gentle movement and frequent mobility breaks to avoid stiffness. They note that switching from floor-sitting to western-style furniture and wearing supportive footwear significantly reduces daily pain flares.
South Korean surgeons recommend knee surgery when conservative therapies like injections or physiotherapy fail after 6 to 12 weeks. Major indicators include untenable pain, bone-on-bone deformity (Kellgren-Lawrence grade III–IV), or mechanical symptoms like joint locking. Early intervention via osteotomy or stem cell therapy is common for younger, active patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: South Korean orthopaedic care stands out for its volume-driven expertise. Leaders like Dr Tae Kyun Kim at Bundang TK Hospital have performed over 16,000 knee surgeries. This high patient volume often leads to refined techniques in simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty. It allows patients to address both knees in a single surgical session.
Patient Consensus: Patients often transition from local clinics to larger hospitals once MRI results confirm bone-on-bone disease. They note that while regenerative stem cell procedures like Cartistem are effective for early damage, the recovery can be quite intensive.
South Korea offers regulated regenerative treatments for knee osteoarthritis, including the world-first allogeneic stem cell drug Cartistem. Clinics in Seoul and Incheon provide these umbilical cord-derived stem cell therapies. These procedures typically target patients with Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 1–3 arthritis to regenerate damaged cartilage.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows a clear distinction between basic injections and surgical regeneration in Korea. Samsungbalance Clinic serves 17,000 patients annually. By contrast, high-volume centres like Naeun Hospital treat 500,000 patients. Choosing a government-designated facility ensures the stem cell products used are legally regulated under the Advanced Regenerative Bio Act.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that surgical cartilage procedures like Cartistem are more effective than simple injections. They suggest these treatments work best before reaching the bone-on-bone stage in South Korea.
South Korea manages knee osteoarthritis through regenerative medicine and Integrative Korean Medicine. Specialists use stem cell therapy to delay surgery. They also use Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections and Trigger Point Injection (TPI) therapy. These clinics often combine Western pharmaceutical treatments with traditional Korean therapies to improve joint function.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many countries offer basic physiotherapy. However, South Korean centres such as NAEUN HOSPITAL hold specific Ministry of Health designations for regenerative medicine. This allows doctors like Dr Seong Hyun Kim to use legally regulated stem cell protocols. Dr Kim has 30+ years of experience. These protocols are often unavailable or less standardised in other regions.
Patient Consensus: In South Korea, the best long-term relief combines regular low-impact exercise and hyaluronic acid injections. Cycling is a common example. They emphasise the importance of staying active and using topical anti-inflammatories. These help manage daily flare-ups without surgery.
South Korea offers unique integrative treatments for knee osteoarthritis, blending traditional Korean Medicine (KM) with regenerative therapies. Key methods include pharmacopuncture, needle-embedding, and Korea-specific stem cell procedures like Cartistem and Cartilife. These aim to reduce inflammation and regenerate cartilage beyond standard pain management.
Bookimed Expert Insight: The most significant Korean advantage is the collaborative model between traditional doctors and orthopaedic specialists. 30+ year experts like Dr Seong Hyun Kim use stem cells. However, clinics like NAEUN Hospital combine these with KOIHA-accredited safety standards. This integration lets patients access high-volume surgical expertise and traditional recovery protocols in one location.
Patient Consensus: Patients find traditional care excellent for symptom relief. However, many suggest combining it with Korea-specific cartilage procedures like Cartistem to delay knee replacement. They emphasise that herbal remedies support recovery. Even so, regenerative stem cell options are the most distinct treatments available in the country.
Find specialised knee osteoarthritis hospitals in South Korea. Target Ministry of Health and Welfare designated orthopaedic centres or JCI-accredited university hospitals. Key facilities like Naeun Hospital in Incheon hold KOIHA accreditation. Seoul-based clinics such as Leadheal Hospital and Samsungbalance Clinic specialise in regenerative stem cell therapy and minimally invasive arthroscopy.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While university hospitals are standard for complex cases, specialised private hospitals like Leadheal have focused orthopaedic teams. They treat over 44,000 patients annually. These centres often provide faster access to robotic surgery and rehabilitation units compared to larger multidisciplinary institutions.
Patient Consensus: Patients recommend searching for orthopaedic centres in Seoul and Busan using local terms. They note that major international clinics provide dedicated English-speaking coordinators. Many suggest starting with an orthopaedic clinic for initial imaging. They then seek a university hospital referral for surgery.