NAEUN HOSPITAL
Prostatectomy in the Republic of Korea typically costs from AUD $18,000. Total expenses depend on the surgical technique, hospital tier, and patient complexity. In Australia, this procedure averages around AUD $29,500. Patients save approximately 39% by travelling to Korean medical hubs like Seoul or Incheon. Inclusions often cover pre-operative diagnostics, surgeon fees, anaesthetic, and a hospital stay of several days.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Paying for a top-tier Seoul facility provides access to world-leading precision. Samsung Medical Center and Severance Hospital are accredited by JCI or KOIHA and use advanced digital systems. Experts like Dr. Kang Seok-ho at Korea University Anam Hospital pioneered robotic bladder replacements in Asia. This surgical expertise often leads to bloodless procedures or minimal transfusions, reducing overall recovery time and hospital costs.
| Republic of Korea | Thailand | Turkey | |
| Prostatectomy | from AUD $18,000 | ≈ AUD $15,100 | from AUD $9,900 |
| Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) | from AUD $6,500 | ≈ AUD $5,500 | from AUD $5,700 |
| Robotic da Vinci prostatectomy | from AUD $25,900 | from AUD $35,900 | from AUD $16,500 |
| Laparoscopic prostatectomy | from AUD $15,800 | ≈ AUD $13,700 | from AUD $8,600 |
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 Chunyong is a urologist with a PhD in Medicine from Hanyang University College of Medicine. His clinical focus includes kidney and urinary stones (ESWL), prostate diseases (BPH, prostate cancer, prostatitis), sexual dysfunction, vasectomy, cystitis, urinary incontinence, and voiding dysfunction.
He has served as Director of Hanyang University Hospital. He was Chairman and Chief Professor of the Department of Urology at Hanyang University College of Medicine. He served as President and later Honorary President of the Korean Endourological Society. He was also a Board Member of the Société Internationale d'Urologie.
His international roles include Visiting Fellow at UCLA and Visiting Professor at the University of Tübingen. He was featured twice on EBS “Best Doctors,” covering prostatic diseases and kidney and urinary stones.
Professor Kim Hyun-hoe is a urologic cancer surgeon. He specializes in prostate and kidney cancer and robotic surgery. He directs Myongji Hospital’s Robotic Surgery Center and the Prostate & Kidney Cancer Center. He performed Korea’s first single-incision laparoscopy. At SNUH, he led more than 2,300 da Vinci cases over five years. He now uses the da Vinci Xi system.
He holds an MD, MS, and PhD from Seoul National University. He is a former director of SNUH Robotic Surgery and the Urology/Prostate Cancer Center. He is a past president of the Korean Society of Endourology and Robotics. He is a council member of the Korean Urological Association. His awards include the WCE Best Laparoscopy/Robotic Paper and the KUA Best Paper. He has also received several national academic honors. He contributes to next‑generation da Vinci research with Seoul National University and Intuitive Surgical. This was the first such collaboration in Asia.
When considering Prostatectomy, it’s important to understand the different techniques and which is best suited for you. Here’s a concise comparison of popular options:
This minimally invasive procedure uses robotic technology to remove the prostate gland, primarily for prostate cancer treatment.
This prostate surgery involves removing parts of the prostate gland to treat urinary problems due to an enlarged prostate.
It is a minimally invasive procedure for removing the prostate gland, often used in prostate cancer treatment.
Surgeons in South Korea achieve a 95% success rate for cancer control during robotic prostatectomy, maintaining 5-year survival rates between 91.7% and 94.7%. Severance Hospital and Samsung Medical Center are high-volume centres. They use the da Vinci Xi robotic system, keeping complication rates under 1%.
Bookimed Expert Insight: South Korea leads in robotic adoption. RARP rates jumped from 49% to nearly 75% in a decade. Centres like Korea University Anam Hospital offer same-day consultations and tests for new patients. This efficiency and JCI-accredited safety make Seoul a global hub for minimally invasive urology.
Patient Consensus: Men value the high-tech robotic approach in South Korea. It spares potency and speeds recovery. Most find temporary incontinence issues resolve or become manageable within 3–6 months post-surgery.
Recovery for a prostatectomy in South Korea requires a 10–14 day local stay before flying back to Australia. Patients usually spend 1–3 nights in hospital, often at JCI-accredited Seoul facilities. Early walking starts within 24 hours. Strenuous activity must be avoided for 6 weeks.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While many Seoul centres offer robotic surgery, Professor Kang Seok-ho at Korea University Anam Hospital uses bloodless surgery techniques. This approach helps speed up initial healing. It is particularly valuable for Australian patients facing long-haul flights home after the mandatory 14-day recovery period.
Patient Consensus: Patients in South Korea report being mobile shortly after discharge. Most manage pain with non-opioid rotations. Others recommend planning a 3-week stay for full wound healing.
Specialists at major South Korean centres like Samsung Medical Centre and Severance Hospital are often internationally trained. They speak proficient English. These clinicians frequently use English medical terminology. However, large hospitals also provide dedicated international healthcare teams for clear communication during surgery and recovery.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that the most experienced prostatectomy surgeons in Seoul often lead "Digital Hospitals." For example, SNUH was fully digital by 2004. This digital focus extends to patient portals and coordinators. They manage English-language communications more efficiently than smaller local clinics.
Patient Consensus: Patients find that JCI-accredited hospitals in South Korea offer the best English support. This support comes through professional medical interpreters. Checking a urologist’s profile for international training or American fellowships is a reliable way to gauge their proficiency.