Myongji Hospital celebrates 500 robotic surgeries in 2 years

Myongji Hospital said it held a ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate completing 500 robotic surgeries over the past two years at its facility in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

The hospital’s Robotic Surgery Center, established in 2023, has steadily expanded its capabilities in urology, gynecology, general surgery, and otolaryngology. Just eight months after opening, the center reached 100 cases and has now surpassed 500.

Initially, most patients came from Goyang, but the center now draws half of its patients from across the greater Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Gimpo, Paju, and Incheon—reflecting growing regional trust.

The hospital noted that cancer surgeries now make up nearly half of all robotic procedures. It also highlighted its successful early implementation of advanced transoral robotic surgeries (TORT-TORS), used to treat thyroid and head and neck cancers by inserting robotic arms through the lower lip.

Myongji Hospital is continuing to expand the scope of robotic surgery, now applying the technology to procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting and breast reconstruction. The center aims to enhance surgical precision, broaden indications, and increase the proportion of cancer cases.

“Robotic surgery is no longer optional—it’s become an essential treatment tool for complex procedures,” said Kim Hyun-hoe, director of the Robotic Surgery Center. “We aim to perform more than 400 cases annually by further advancing our technology and strengthening collaborative care.”

Lee Wang-jun, chairman of Myongji Hospital, said, “It’s rewarding to see 500 surgeries completed in just two years thanks to the efforts of multiple departments after introducing the da Vinci robotic system.” He added that the hospital will invest in new equipment, specialized centers, and outstanding medical staff to reach 1,000 surgeries within the next year.