Endocrinology, pediatrics, respiratory medicine, orthopedics, urology, and neurology were among the clinical fields in which Korean hospitals showed strength, with the "Big 5" hospitals occupying higher ranks.

The result is from analyzing U.S. magazine Newsweek's "World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2024" rankings in partnership with global market research firm Statista. Tens of thousands of doctors and other healthcare professionals from 30 countries participated in the evaluation from June to July.

This year's rankings chose the top 100 or 300 hospitals in 12 clinical specialties, adding obstetrics and gynecology.

Cardiology and oncology selected the top 300 institutions, pediatrics, 250, cardiac surgery, endocrinology, and gastroenterology, 150, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology, 125, and obstetrics and gynecology, 100.

U.S. hospitals took the highest post in all 12 clinical areas. The U.S. also had the most hospitals per category on the list.

In particular, the Mayo Clinic was ranked No. 1 in eight of the 12 categories. The top clinical areas of Mayo Clinic were cardiology, endocrinology, cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, neurosurgery, urology, and respiratory medicine. In oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center topped the list again this year, as it did last year. Boston Children's Hospital topped the list in pediatrics, as it did last year. Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) was ranked No.1 in orthopedics, and the Johns Hopkins Hospital was ranked the top in obstetrics and gynecology.

Korean hospitals strong in pediatrics, endocrinology, and urology

Pediatrics was where the largest number of Korean hospitals made the top-100 list. In pediatrics, 29 Korean hospitals were ranked among the world's best, behind only the United States (68) and Germany (32).

Seoul National University Hospital ranked the highest among Korean hospitals, at 14th, showing a wide gap with the second-highest,l Asan Medical Center, at 65th. Also included in the top-100 list were Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital (90th) and Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (100th).

Korean hospitals were also strong in endocrinology. The nation had 21 hospitals ranked among the world's best, the second most after the United States (37). Two Korean hospitals were ranked among the top five in the world for endocrinology -- Asan Medical Center was ranked (3) and Seoul National University Hospital was ranked (5). As in previous years, Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Asan Medical Center held the top three spots for endocrinology. Seoul National University Hospital, ranked ninth last year, jumped four spots this year to rank fifth, behind the Cleveland Clinic in the United States.

Eleven Korean hospitals made the list of the world's best in urology after the United States (42) and France (12). Three of the 11 Korean hospitals were ranked in the world's top 10. Asan Medical Center ranked fourth, Seoul National University Hospital ranked fifth, and Samsung Medical Center ranked eighth.

Korean hospitals excelled in orthopedics, respiratory medicine, and neurology, with 11, 10, and eight hospitals ranked among the world's best, respectively.

Severance Hospital was the only Korean institution in the top 100 obstetrics-gynecology hospitals, which was included in the survey for the first time. The magazine selected the 100 best hospitals but ranked only the top 50, wrapping up the other 50 as 51-100. Severance Hospital belonged to the latter group.

Korean hospitals also showed weakness in cardiac surgery and neurosurgery, with only two hospitals ranked among the world's best in each area.

The U.S. had the most hospitals recognized across all categories, followed by Germany. Germany ranked second to the U.S. in cardiology, cardiac surgery, pediatrics, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, and gynecology.

Among Big 5, AMC ranked in the world's top 10 in five areas

Among Korean hospitals, the Big Five performed well, with Asan Medical Center (AMC) ranked among the world's best in 10 of 12 clinical areas. It was among the world’s top 10 in endocrinology (3), gastroenterology (5), oncology (6), neurology (8), and urology (4). It also was No. 1 in Korea in cardiology, cardiac surgery, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, and urology.

The Korean university hospital with the most "World's Best" rankings was Severance Hospital. It made the list in 11 of the 12 clinical areas, excluding cardiac surgery. It was also the only Korean hospital ranked in obstetrics and gynecology, newly added to the rankings this year. Severance was also the only Korean hospital in the world's top 10 for orthopedics. Only two Korean hospitals -- Severance and Gangnam Severance -- were ranked among the world's top hospitals for neurosurgery. Severance Hospital ranked first in Korea in orthopedics, neurosurgery, and obstetrics-gynecology.

Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) and Samsung Medical Center (SMC) were ranked as "world's best" in nine fields each. SNUH was strong in pediatrics, ranking 14th globally, the highest ranking among Korean university hospitals. SMC was ranked 241st in the world for pediatrics, the lowest ranking among Korean hospitals. SMC performed the best among Korean oncology and respiratory medicine hospitals, ranking 5th and 28th worldwide.

Seoul St. Mary's Hospital was among the world's best in eight areas, along with Gangnam Severance Hospital. Seoul St. Mary's performed best in gastroenterology, ranking 12th globally. Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital was also ranked 129th for gastroenterology. Seoul National University Bundang Hospital also performed well. It was ranked among the world's best in seven fields and was one of only two Korean hospitals to make the list for cardiac surgery.