Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH)
Atrial septal defect surgery in Republic of Korea typically costs from $18,500 to $31,500. The total price depends on the choice between transcatheter closure or open-heart surgery. In the US, patients pay around $130,000 on average for cardiac repairs. Korea offers savings of approximately 81%. Costs generally include the surgical procedure, anesthesia, hospital stay, and essential diagnostic imaging.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Choosing specialized centers in Incheon like Sejong Hospital offers exceptional value. Dr. Sungho Kim has performed over 1,200 successful cardiac interventions. This hospital pioneered catheter-based closures to reduce the need for invasive surgeries. While Seoul hospitals like Severance hold JCI accreditation, regional specialists often provide similar high-tier technology at competitive rates. Many top Korean facilities are now fully digitalized for maximum patient safety.
Why consider the Republic of Korea for atrial septal defect surgery?
Access advanced Atrial septal defect surgery solutions in trusted clinics .
| Republic of Korea | Turkey | Austria | |
| Atrial septal defect surgery | from $18,500 | from $12,000 | from $40,000 |
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Please note, every patient"s recovery varies and the timeline may differ.
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. 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.
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.
This procedure involves repairing a hole in the atrial septum to improve heart function and prevent complications.
Atrial septal defect (ASD) surgery in South Korean hospitals maintains a success rate of 90% to 95% for standard surgical repair. Specialized transcatheter closures achieve higher success rates between 99.1% and 100% at leading JCI-accredited centers in Seoul and Incheon.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While general hospitals are excellent, choosing a specialized cardiac center provides a significant experience advantage. SEJONG HOSPITAL surgeons like Professor Sungho Kim have performed over 1,200 cardiac interventions. This high volume directly correlates with the 98% success rates reported at such dedicated heart facilities.
Patient Consensus: Patients value the efficiency of Korean cardiac centers, noting that most become mobile within 24 to 48 hours. Many recommend requesting a transesophageal echo (TEE) pre-operatively to ensure the most accurate defect sizing.
Recovery depends on the surgical approach used at Korean centers like Severance Hospital or Sejong Hospital. Transcatheter device closure allows return to light activity within 1 week, while open-heart surgical repair requires 4 to 6 weeks for light activity and 2 to 3 months for full physical recovery.
Bookimed Expert Insight: South Korea’s lead in digital healthcare reduces recovery friction through advanced monitoring. Prof. Sungho Kim at Sejong Hospital has performed over 1,200 interventions, focusing on catheter-based techniques. These minimally invasive methods significantly shorten hospital stays compared to traditional surgery, often allowing international patients to fly home safely within 7 to 10 days.
Patient Consensus: Many notice immediate improvements in breathing, though mild fatigue often lingers for 3 months. Those treated in Seoul suggest stocking easy meals and strictly monitoring heart rhythms during the first 8 weeks.
Surgical techniques for ASD repair in Korea prioritize minimally invasive methods like percutaneous catheter closure and robotic-assisted repair using the da Vinci system. Leading centers such as Severance Hospital and SNUH utilize 3D endoscopic technology and mini-thoracotomy to minimize scarring, ensuring faster recovery compared to traditional open-heart surgery.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Korean cardiac centers like Severance Hospital achieve significantly shorter hospital stays by using peripheral cannulation. By connecting the heart-lung machine through the groin rather than the chest, surgeons reduce thoracic trauma. This technique allows many patients to be discharged in 4 days instead of the 10 days typical for standard surgery.
Patient Consensus: Patients report that catheter-based closures are nearly pain-free by the second day with no visible scarring. Those undergoing robotic procedures emphasize the importance of confirming an English-speaking surgeon to discuss the 3D-imaging plan before the 2.5-hour operation.
Top-rated hospitals for ASD surgery in South Korea include Samsung Medical Center, ASAN Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), and Severance Hospital. These JCI-accredited institutions utilize transcatheter ASD closure and robotic-assisted techniques, maintaining success rates above 99% for congenital heart defect repairs.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While the Big 5 hospitals in Seoul dominate rankings, Sejong Hospital in Incheon offers a unique advantage for pediatric ASD. Professor Sungho Kim has performed over 1,200 cardiac interventions there. This high volume often leads to faster catheter-based recoveries compared to generalized university hospitals.
Patient Consensus: Patients frequently highlight the efficiency of being mobile within 48 hours after transcatheter procedures. Most suggest staying in Seoul for 1 week post-op to complete necessary follow-up echocardiograms.