Gibbeum General Hospital
Pediatric cardiac surgery in South Korea typically costs from $25,700 to $41,000. Total expenses depend on the complexity of the heart defect, the specific surgical approach, and the length of the intensive care stay. International patients can expect 50-90% savings compared to the United States.
Typical Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Costs in South Korea
Most advanced pediatric cardiac centers are located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Clinics in Seoul often serve as primary hubs for complex cases, while regional centers may offer slightly different pricing structures. Consult with a specialist to get accurate pricing for your child's specific medical case.
| Republic of Korea | Turkey | Austria | |
| Plastic surgery for cardiac valve | from $28,500 | from $8,000 | from $35,000 |
| Open heart surgery | from $28,500 | from $8,000 | from $70,000 |
| Heart cryoablation | from $21,500 | from $10,000 | from $22,000 |
| Coronary angioplasty | from $8,000 | from $9,000 | from $25,000 |
| Coronary angiography | from $2,200 | from $1,500 | from $10,000 |
No hidden fees – just official clinic prices. Pay at the clinic for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery treatment upon arrival and use a flexible installment plan if needed.
Bookimed is committed to your safety. We only work with medical institutions that maintain high international standards in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery treatment and have the necessary licenses to serve international patients worldwide.
Bookimed offers free expert assistance. A personal medical coordinator supports you before, during, and after your treatment, solving any issues. You're never alone on your Pediatric Cardiac Surgery treatment journey.
Professor Sung-Ho Kim, MD, MS, PhD, is a pediatric cardiologist and congenital heart disease specialist with more than 40 years of experience. He trained at Hanyang University College of Medicine (MD) and Hanyang University Graduate School (MS, PhD). He helped advance catheter-based treatment of ASD, VSD, tetralogy of Fallot, and other defects. This work reduced the need for open-heart surgery. He has performed more than 1,200 pediatric and congenital cardiac interventions.
He has led academic and clinical programs. He contributes to research and training. He also participates in professional cardiology societies and presents at international conferences.
Dr. Jieun Ban, MD, is a pediatric cardiologist at Bucheon Sejong Hospital. She focuses on arrhythmias and congenital heart disease. She provides electrophysiologic evaluation for children and adolescents. She completed training in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology.
Her practice includes ASD, VSD, cardiac syncope, and other rhythm disorders. She offers advanced diagnostics and interventional care. This includes cryoablation and catheter-based electrophysiology. She works with specialized cardiac teams. She is skilled in echocardiography, peri-procedural care, and long-term follow-up.
Dr. Jeong‑Yoon Kim, MD, is a pediatric cardiologist at Bucheon Sejong Hospital. She has led the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine since 2019 and also sees patients at Incheon Sejong Hospital.
She graduated from Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine. She completed clinical training at Severance Hospital, a tertiary medical center in Korea. Her practice focuses on congenital heart disease (ASD, VSD), Kawasaki disease, pediatric arrhythmias, syncope, and intensive cardiac care. She has strong skills in echocardiography, pre‑ and post‑procedure care, long‑term follow‑up, and team‑based cardiac care.
Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Asan Medical Center, and Samsung Medical Center are the premier institutions for pediatric cardiac surgery in South Korea. These JCI-accredited facilities handle complex congenital heart repairs. They report survival rates exceeding 98% for neonatal procedures. Many centers specialize in low-birth-weight infant surgeries.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Clinical volume is the strongest indicator of safety here. Asan Medical Center performs over 65,000 operations annually. This high volume allows surgeons to maintain exceptional skill levels. Clinics like SEJONG Hospital specialize almost exclusively in cardiac care. They offer more focused pediatric teams than some larger multidisciplinary university hospitals.
Patient Consensus: Parents highlight that robotic repairs for conditions like Tetralogy of Fallot often result in 3-day recoveries. Visitors recommend verifying JCI accreditation and arriving 2 weeks early to manage jet lag before surgery.
Pediatric heart surgery in the Republic of Korea demonstrates a 97.9% survival rate for infants with congenital heart disease. High-volume centers like Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) report mortality as low as 1.16%. Advanced catheter-based interventions and robotic systems significantly improve outcomes for complex neonatal defects.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows a clear link between specialization and surgical volume in Incheon and Seoul. SEJONG HOSPITAL focuses exclusively on cardiovascular care, performing 400,000+ yearly treatments. This concentrated volume allows Dr. Sungho Kim to perform 1,200+ procedures. Patients benefit from lower costs, with atrial septal defect surgery starting at $18,500.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Korean surgeons often quote 98% to 99% survival rates for common repairs. They appreciate the faster recovery times, often being discharged 10 days after Tetralogy of Fallot surgery.
Verify that your child's surgeon holds specialized certification in congenital heart surgery. Look for institutions like Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) or Asan Medical Center. These facilities perform thousands of complex operations annually. High-volume centers often report better outcomes for pediatric cardiac cases.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows a clear volume-to-outcome link in Seoul. Asan Medical Center performs 45% of all heart transplants in South Korea. Their team handles over 65,000 operations annually. This immense volume allows surgeons to maintain peak technical proficiency in rare pediatric conditions.
Patient Consensus: Parents emphasize that general heart surgeons are not enough for children. They recommend asking for a specific pediatric case log. Many note that English-speaking staff at major university hospitals significantly reduces stress during the surgical process.
A child typically needs 6 to 8 weeks in Republic of Korea for open-heart surgery. This timeframe includes 1 week of pre-operative testing. The hospital stay lasts 1 to 2 weeks post-surgery. Families should plan for 3 to 4 weeks of outpatient follow-up care.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Korean hospitals, like Asan Medical Center and Samsung Medical Center, often maintain longer inpatient stays than Western facilities. This conservative approach leads to high survival rates for complex repairs. Staying near the clinic in Seoul is vital, as daily check-ups are common during the first month post-discharge.
Patient Consensus: Parents recommend renting an apartment close to the hospital instead of a hotel for the month-long stay. It is also important to apply early for a medical visa to cover the full recovery period.
Major hospitals in the Republic of Korea provide dedicated pediatric intensive care units (PICU) for post-operative recovery. These facilities offer specialized monitoring for congenital heart conditions. Centers like Severance Hospital and Asan Medical Center maintain specialized wings for neonatal and infant cardiac cases. Pediatric specialists provide 24/7 care.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows a strong correlation between clinic volume and specialized infrastructure in Seoul. Asan Medical Center and Severance Hospital manage over 4,000,000 patients annually combined. This high volume allows these institutions to maintain separate, highly specialized PICU environments that general hospitals cannot support. When choosing a facility, prioritize those with KOIHA accreditation to ensure international safety standards.
Patient Consensus: Parents emphasize that recovery is intensive and often requires a 1-to-2-week hospital stay. They highly recommend confirming the availability of English-speaking staff in the PICU before the procedure begins.