SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

- Leading the future of healthcare by strengthening critical and essential medical services, innovating in AI-driven precision medicine, and fostering global research collaborations.

 

[Photo] Panoramic view of Seoul National University Hospital

 

Seoul National University Hospital (President and CEO Nam-Jong Paik) announced on the August 4th that it ranked first in the general hospital category for the 11th consecutive year in the '2026 National Brand Competitiveness Index (NBCI)' survey conducted by the Korea Productivity Center.

The NBCI is an index that measures brand competitiveness by comprehensively evaluating factors such as brand awareness, image, and relationships through annual consumer surveys; this year's survey was conducted from April to June. Seoul National University Hospital also maintains the top spot for the 26th consecutive year in the Korea Brand Power Index (K-BPI) survey conducted by the Korea Management Association Consultants (KMAC).

The hospital expanded its facilities by remodeling operating rooms, adding 11 new rooms (10 for adults and one for pediatrics), and significantly increased both total surgeries and robotic surgeries compared to the previous year, thereby strengthening its capacity to treat complex, high-acuity diseases. It also successfully performed the nation's first robot-assisted lung transplant. The hospital opened the 'Severe Maternal-Neonatal Care Center,' which manages the entire process—from delivery to neonatal treatment—for critically ill, high-risk mothers and newborns, serving as the nation's final referral institution for such cases. It also accelerated the expansion of regional and essential medical infrastructure through projects such as the groundbreaking of Baegot Seoul National University Hospital, the opening of the National Fire Hospital, and equipment installation at the Gijang Heavy Ion Therapy Center.

Innovations in AI-based precision medicine also gained momentum. The hospital launched 'SNUH POLARIS,' the nation's first AI-powered precision medicine clinical support system, integrating previously scattered data on pathology, diagnosis, genomics, and surgery. It completed the standardization of genomic data for cancer patients, laying the groundwork for precision diagnosis and personalized treatment. Additionally, it unveiled 'KMed.AI,' a medical-specialized AI developed jointly with Naver, and officially launched 'SNUH.AI,' a medical AI agent platform.

Global research collaborations have also expanded. Designated as the nation's first "Specialized Research Institute for National Strategic Technologies" (focusing on advanced biotechnology and digital health data analysis/utilization), Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) has opened an overseas hub in Boston and expanded international joint research collaborations with Harvard Medical School (HMS), MIT, and Stanford University. In particular, the hospital has significantly bolstered its global research capabilities by conducting numerous joint research projects and increasing researcher exchanges with Harvard Medical School.

The hospital also continues to fulfill its role in public healthcare. Numerous public clinical professors are contributing to addressing gaps in essential medical services by rotating through regional public hospitals. The SNUH Group—comprising the main hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, the National Traffic Rehabilitation Hospital, and the National Fire Hospital—operates the largest public hospital network in the country.

President and CEO Nam-Jong Paik of SNUH stated, "Ranking first in the NBCI for 11 consecutive years is the result of tangible achievements for public health, such as the expansion of critical and essential medical services and innovations in AI-based precision medicine." He added, "As the nation's central hospital, we will continue to realize the values of public healthcare and lead the future of medicine."