Gibbeum General Hospital
From AUD $8,600. The total depends on stone size, location, and the medical facility tier. In Australia, this procedure averages AUD $7,400. Patients save roughly 0% by travelling to Korean medical hubs. Costs generally include urologist consultations, diagnostic imaging like CT scans, and the laser surgical procedure.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Choosing Incheon instead of central Seoul can lower costs without compromising quality. Naeun Hospital, a 40-minute drive from the airport, serves many Australian patients and holds KOIHA accreditation. This ensures the facility meets rigorous national quality standards. Experienced urologists like Dr. Sohn Dong-wan specialised in laser stone removal for complex urologic cases. Major clinics often treat over 500,000 patients annually, providing high surgical efficiency.
| Republic of Korea | Thailand | Turkey | |
| Laser Lithotripsy | from AUD $8,600 | ≈ AUD $2,900 | ≈ AUD $2,100 |
| Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy (kidney stone removal) | from AUD $8,600 | ≈ AUD $4,000 | from AUD $14,800 |
Dr. Son Dong-wan specializes in urologic oncology, urinary incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. He performs laser prostate surgery. He provides robotic and laparoscopic treatment for cancers of the prostate, bladder, ureter, and kidney. He also treats ureteropelvic junction obstruction.
His minimally invasive practice includes laparoscopic nephrectomy and prostatectomy. He performs cystoscopic TURBT and TURP. He offers ureteroscopic laser stone removal and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. He treats BPH, prostatitis, urinary stones, testicular cancer, stress urinary incontinence (SUI), overactive bladder (OAB), and male infertility.
Dr. Lee Min-jong is a board-certified urologist at Goldman Urology Clinic, Gangnam Branch. He has over 25 years of clinical experience. He graduated from Yonsei University. He completed a fellowship at Severance Hospital. He is an adjunct professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine. He previously served as Head of Urology at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.
His research covers prostatitis and nocturia in primary care, bladder cancer diagnosis, pediatric urology, and male infertility. He presented at the Asia-Pacific Prostate Society meeting in 2014.
Memberships: Korean Urological Association; Korean Prostate Society; Korean Urolithiasis Society; Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology; American Urological Association (AUA).
Dr. Jo Jeong-ho is a board-certified urologist at Goldman Urology Clinic (Gangnam Branch). He is also the CEO of Goldman Consulting. He graduated from Chonnam National University Medical School. He led the UN medical support team in East Timor (UNTAET). He also served as Head of Urology at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.
He serves as Insurance Director for the Korean Urological Association of Practitioners and the Korean Association of Medical Practitioners. He is a member of the KMA Relative Value Research Group. In 2017, his clinic became a UroLift reference center and hosted visiting surgeons from overseas. His memberships include the Korean Urological Association (KUA), Korean Prostate Society, American Urological Association (AUA), and European Association of Urology (EAU).
Dr. Ryu Kyung-ho is a board-certified urologist and the Representative Director of Goldman Urology Clinic, Gangnam Branch. He earned his medical degree from Catholic Kwandong University. He previously worked as a urologist at VHS Medical Center in Seoul.
He serves as Insurance Director for the Korean Urological Association of Practitioners. He previously served as PR Director for the Gangnam-gu Medical Association. He also served on the information committee of the Korean Prostate Society.
He presented at the 3rd Korean Society of Urological Endoscopy and Robotics Meeting (2025). He also presented at the Korean Prostate Society BPH Technical Summit (2025). He is a member of the Korean Urological Association, Korean Prostate Society, Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology, Korean Society of Urological Ultrasound, Korean Association of Urogenital Tract Infection and Inflammation, and the Korean Continence Society.
Laser lithotripsy in the Republic of Korea is exceptionally safe, with stone-free success rates reaching 98.9%. Accredited facilities like NAEUN HOSPITAL and Gibbeum General Hospital use minimally invasive ureteroscopy to break down stones without incisions. This ensures high safety standards and rapid recovery.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many AU patients focus on surgeons, the KOIHA accreditation in Korea is the real safety benchmark. It requires clinics to pass strict government checks. These often exceed international baseline standards, making it a reliable signal for high-quality urological care.
Patient Consensus: Patients in the Republic of Korea find the procedure quick and manageable, though temporary stent discomfort remains the most noted part of recovery. Most suggest staying near the clinic for the first few days and confirm the importance of knowing infection warning signs before travelling home.
Laser lithotripsy in the Republic of Korea achieves a success rate between 90.2% and 93.5% for total stone clearance. Specialists in Seoul and Incheon use holmium lasers and flexible ureteroscopy to treat stones larger than 10 mm. It is more effective than traditional shockwave therapy.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many centres focus on throughput, Gibbeum General Hospital in Seoul offers comprehensive pre-op screening packages for A$1,900. These include 3D CT scans and urologist consultations to map stone density before surgery. This level of detail helps surgeons choose the exact laser frequency needed for 90%+ clearance.
Patient Consensus: Patients report that ureteroscopy with laser provides the best results for the least pain compared to other methods. Recovery often involves a temporary stent and minor bleeding, but most stones are cleared in one session.
Laser lithotripsy in Korea typically results in a rapid recovery. Most patients return home the same day. Full recovery usually takes 3 to 5 days. Specialists use minimally invasive ureteroscopy to break stones. This allows most individuals to return to light work within 24 to 48 hours.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Korean urologists often perform 1,000+ endoscopic procedures annually. This high volume leads to precise stent placement. Patients benefit from updated laser technology that reduces tissue trauma. This often leads to shorter hospital stays compared to traditional methods.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Korea report feeling immediate relief from stone pain. They often find the medical staff very efficient during discharge. The clear instructions on hydration and stent care support a smooth transition home.
Laser lithotripsy in the Republic of Korea usually takes 30–60 minutes to perform under general anaesthesia. This minimally invasive procedure often involves flexible ureterorenoscopy. It allows most patients same-day discharge within 1–2 hours of finishing their surgery.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While the surgery is fast, Seoul clinics often perform comprehensive pre-operative testing. This includes 3D CT scans and blood tests. Dr. Yoon Sik Kang at Gibbeum General Hospital includes these in all-inclusive packages. This allows precise stone localisation before the 30-minute laser procedure.
Patient Consensus: The operation is quick and efficient. Patients often leave the hospital within an hour of waking up. Many suggest checking if a stent is required. This impacts comfort more than the short surgery time in Korea.
Laser lithotripsy is a minimally invasive procedure. It uses concentrated laser energy to fragment kidney, bladder, or ureteral stones. Surgeons in the Republic of Korea perform this with high-resolution ureteroscopes inserted through the urethra. They shatter stones into dust without incisions while patients are under general anaesthesia.
Bookimed Expert Insight: South Korean university hospitals often quote A$8,300 to A$13,800. However, specialised centres like Gibbeum General Hospital offer targeted packages around A$1,900. These lower-cost options often include comprehensive 3D CT imaging and 2 nights of hospital monitoring. This is vital because Australian patients may experience stent-related urgency shortly after discharge.
Patient Consensus: Expect the first urination to sting and some blood in the urine, but these symptoms usually fade after 24 hours. Staying well-hydrated helps manage stent discomfort before the quick removal procedure in the Republic of Korea.
The Republic of Korea attracts patients for laser lithotripsy due to JCI-accredited facilities and KOIHA-certified standards. Specialists like Dr Sohn Dong-wan at Naeun Hospital use flexible ureteroscopy and holmium lasers. These minimally invasive techniques offer precise stone removal, faster recovery, and high success rates.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While basic laser lithotripsy packages at clinics like Gibbeum General Hospital start around A$1,900, this often covers only diagnostic screenings and consultations. Patients should budget for a 2-day hospital stay. The most efficient clinics in Seoul bundle 3D CT scans and blood tests into the initial surgical framework.
Patient Consensus: Success rates are high for removing 7 mm stones in a single session. Patients appreciate the clear communication via KakaoTalk and the value of bundled post-operative medications.
Top clinics for laser lithotripsy in the Republic of Korea include Gibbeum General Hospital in Seoul. NAEUN HOSPITAL in Incheon is another top choice. These KOIHA-accredited facilities specialise in minimally invasive ureteroscopic laser stone removal. Specialists use Holmium lasers to fragment kidney stones without incisions, typically requiring a 2-day hospital stay.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While large university hospitals are prestigious, specialised general hospitals like NAEUN HOSPITAL handle massive patient volumes. They treat 500,000 patients annually. This high-frequency environment often leads to streamlined pathways for routine laser lithotripsy. This helps international patients secure theatre dates and specialist consultations. They secure these much faster than at major academic centres.