Evaluation Model

Hospitals Subject to Evaluation
Large University Hospital Scale and Current Status
Rank Hospital Name Total Beds Total Doctors Beds per Doctor
1 Asan Medical Center 2,823 1451 1.95
2 Yonsei University Severance Hospital 2,448 1255 1.95
3 Samsung Medical Center 2,054 1268 1.62
4 Seoul National University Hospital 1,868 1415 1.32
5 Gachon University Gil Medical Center 1,458 435 3.35
6 Seoul National University Bundang Hospital 1,438 732 1.96
7 Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital 1,427 785 1.82
8 Chungnam National University Hospital 1,409 444 3.17
9 Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital 1,320 412 3.20
10 Ajou University Hospital 1,256 573 2.19
11 Jeonbuk National University Hospital 1,208 399 3.03
12 Chonnam National University Hospital 1,206 435 2.77
13 Pusan National University Hospital 1,203 459 2.62
14 Korea University Guro Hospital 1,138 460 2.47
15 Ulsan University Hospital 1,122 339 3.31
16 Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital 1,118 332 3.37
17 Korea University Anam Hospital 1,115 508 2.19
18 Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital 1,104 348 3.17
19 CHA Bundang Medical Center 1,103 435 2.54
20 Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital 1,049 213 4.92
21 Dankook University Hospital 1,042 307 3.39
22 Dong-A University Hospital 1,019 277 3.68
23 Yeungnam University Hospital 1,008 324 3.11
24 Kyungpook National University Hospital 1,003 410 2.45
25 Inha University Hospital 1,001 380 2.63
26 Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital 997 273 3.65
27 Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital 995 350 2.84
28 Konyang University Hospital 994 235 4.23
29 Gyeongsang National University Hospital 983 267 3.68
30 Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital 982 323 3.04
31 Daegu Catholic University Medical Center 969 284 3.41
32 Kosin University Gospel Hospital 958 285 3.36
33 Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital 952 341 2.79
34 Yonsei University Wonju Severance Christian Hospital 951 325 2.93
35 Kyung Hee University Hospital 945 393 2.40
36 Chosun University Hospital 945 283 3.34
37 Catholic University of Korea St. Vincent's Hospital 933 337 2.77
38 Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital 932 101 9.23
39 Hanyang University Hospital 927 352 2.63
40 Chungbuk National University Hospital 926 292 3.17
Rank Hospital Name Total Beds Total Doctors Beds per Doctor
41 Catholic University of Korea Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital 920 275 3.35
42 Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital 918 279 3.29
43 Inje University Busan Paik Hospital 917 335 2.74
44 Wonkwang University Hospital 912 241 3.78
45 Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital 910 455 2.00
46 Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital 908 138 6.58
47 Konkuk University Hospital 903 361 2.50
48 Seoul Metropolitan Government - Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center 902 261 3.46
49 Daejeon Eulji University Hospital 888 212 4.19
50 Korea University Ansan Hospital 881 350 2.52
51 Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Changwon Hospital 870 255 3.41
52 Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital 866 242 3.58
53 Chung-Ang University Hospital 861 355 2.43
54 Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary's Hospital 856 311 2.75
55 Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary's Hospital 843 189 4.46
56 Catholic University of Korea Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital 832 246 3.38
57 Gangneung Asan Hospital 822 235 3.50
58 Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong 809 268 3.02
59 Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital 799 331 2.41
60 Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital 794 185 4.29
61 Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital 789 206 3.83
62 Yonsei University Yongin Severance Hospital 775 227 3.41
63 Jeju National University Hospital 767 223 3.44
64 Kangwon National University Hospital 755 235 3.21
65 Kangbuk Samsung Hospital 751 383 1.96
66 Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital 735 215 3.42
67 Catholic University of Korea Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital 729 215 3.39
68 Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital 721 227 3.18
69 Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital 705 358 1.97
70 Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital 698 225 3.10
71 Catholic University of Korea Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital 683 183 3.73
72 Changwon Gyeongsang National University Hospital 682 160 4.26
73 Nowon Eulji Medical Center 663 195 3.40
74 Myongji Hospital 656 200 3.28
75 Busan Medical Center 634 69 9.19
76 Hanyang University Guri Hospital 614 203 3.02
77 Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital 587 211 2.78
78 Catholic University of Korea Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital 527 214 2.46
79 CHA Gumi Medical Center 519 79 6.57
80 Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital 507 128 3.96
Korea's First Private Sector-Led Hospital Evaluation

Trust among patients and the public in large university hospitals has reached a critical low following repeated conflicts between the government and the medical community. In numerous surveys, a majority of the public responded that neither the government nor the medical sector prioritizes patients. Regional and essential medical services, previously managed by university hospitals, have worsened, pushing regional healthcare to the brink of collapse. Patients nationwide are increasingly concentrated in Seoul's university hospitals. To resolve this polarization—characterized by concentration in the metropolitan area and medical vacuums in regional areas—creative private sector participation and monitoring are urgently needed.

Jointly promoted by Institute of University Evaluation Inc. and The Korea Economic Daily, the private evaluation of university hospitals with 500 or more beds is the first comprehensive large-scale hospital evaluation attempted in Korea. This evaluation model is highly significant as it systematically examines large hospitals, which serve as the core axis of the domestic medical system. By evaluating a synthesis of patient-centered services/safety, research/education performance, and public healthcare roles, it can lead not only to hospital self-improvement but also to advancements in healthcare policy discussions. In particular, by emphasizing patient satisfaction and safety, it will contribute to improving patient rights and help develop the medical industry by highlighting international competitiveness among hospitals.

Enhancing Patient Rights and Improving Medical Quality

Currently, the only hospital evaluation in Korea is conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (HIRA), and private sector-led evaluations are non-existent. To resolve various issues within the medical system, it is urgent to re-examine and improve service levels from a patient-centered perspective. Recent medical-government conflicts have clearly demonstrated the limitations of policies that exclude the voices of patients. Therefore, medical reform needs a paradigm shift that evaluates medical services from the perspective of patients and the public and reflects these findings in policy, rather than being supplier-centered (government/medical sector).

In terms of global hospital evaluations, the U.S. news magazine Newsweek and the global data firm Statista have been the sole providers, annually announcing the World's Best Hospitals rankings since 2019. However, hospital evaluations are difficult on a global scale due to the strong specificities of each country. Newsweek's evaluation also relies heavily on peer surveys among medical professionals (weighted at approximately 50%), which limits its absolute reliability. Nevertheless, as it is the world's only such evaluation, large domestic university hospitals are making every effort to achieve higher relative rankings in these results.

Institute of University Evaluation Inc. and The Korea Economic Daily have presented a fair and transparent evaluation model to ensure the effectiveness of the results. Ultimately, university hospital evaluation can evolve into a mechanism that reflects social demands such as strengthening medical publicness, enhancing healthcare equity, and securing global competitiveness in the medical industry. If the government, the medical community, and civil society cooperate to create a healthy healthcare ecosystem based on these evaluation results, it will serve as a positive opportunity to increase public trust and the right to health.