How to Get a Second Opinion From a Korean Oncologist (From the US)
Why this option exists. And why almost nobody in the US knows about it
Three of the world's top 10 cancer hospitals are in Seoul: Samsung Medical Center (#3), Asan Medical Center (#4), and Seoul National University Hospital (#8), Newsweek World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2026, via The Korea Herald.
Most major US centers also run remote second opinion programs. But patient-pay pricing is generally not published, and access frequently runs through employer benefit programs. Among Korea's four largest hospitals, Asan is currently the only one that publishes its remote second opinion price. Samsung and Severance accept international inquiries but quote case-by-case.
What it costs (published rates)
| Item | Fee | Turnaround | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asan, written second opinion | ₩320,000 (~$230) | 5–10 business days | AMC official |
| Asan, video consultation | ₩370,000 (~$270) | 7–14 business days | AMC official |
| Imaging review (add-on) | CT ₩70,000–90,000 · MRI ₩300,000–450,000 | — | AMC official |
| Samsung Medical Center | Price on request | — | SMC international |
| Severance Hospital | Price on request (quotes within ~24h) | — | Severance IHC |
Exchange rate note: dollar figures are approximate conversions as of July 2026. Fees are set by the hospitals and can change, always confirm on the hospital's official page before paying. Korean hospitals bill international patients at international rates, which can run around three times domestic insured rates (Korea Biomedical Review, 2025).
Step by step
- Request your records from your US providers. Under the HIPAA right of access, providers must give you copies of your medical records, generally within 30 days. Ask for: clinical notes from diagnosis to present, pathology report(s), imaging in DICOM format (CD or electronic), labs, and a treatment summary.
- Organize the package. A one-page case summary on top (diagnosis, stage if known, treatments so far, current question) makes the review faster and better targeted.
- Submit to the hospital's international office. For Asan, the remote second opinion program and contact details are on the official English page. Pay the published fee.
- Receive the written report. 5–10 business days for the written format. If you booked a video consultation, note that Korean regulations require a Korean-licensed physician to participate in overseas video consultations (SMC policy page).
- Review it with your local oncologist. The report is a specialist's record review for your information and education. It is not a prescription, and it does not replace your treating physician.
What a Korean second opinion is. And is not
- It is a written review of your case by a specialist at a hospital that treats cancer at very high volume. High-volume context matters: a high-volume gastric cancer center in Korea performs on the order of ~500 gastrectomies a year (PMC), while the US National Cancer Database defines "high-volume" as 17+ per year. And 92% of US patients are treated below that threshold (PubMed).
- It is not a treatment guarantee, a diagnosis service, or a substitute for local care. Honest context: much of Korea's headline survival advantage in stomach cancer reflects earlier detection through national screening rather than superior surgery alone (IARC; stage-matched comparisons show mixed results, Ann Surg Oncol 2014, Ann Surg 2010).
When it makes sense
- You want a top-10-ranked center's read on your case for roughly the price of a specialist copay. Before committing to a treatment path.
- You are uninsured or facing high out-of-pocket costs and are weighing options. (US median time from diagnosis to treatment has risen to 44 days; a written opinion in 5–10 business days can inform decisions inside that window.)
- You are considering treatment in Korea and want a low-cost, low-commitment first step.
FAQ
Is this legal?
Yes, Asan's program is an official hospital service for overseas patients. The report functions as an educational record review; your treatment decisions remain with you and your US physician.
Do I need to speak Korean?
No. The international programs operate in English; Severance's international clinic also supports Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and Mongolian (Severance IHC).
Can someone handle the records and submission for me?
Yes. Services like ANDO collect and organize US records, prepare the case summary, handle submission, and walk you through the report when it arrives. The hospital's fee is always billed at the published rate. Coordination is a separate, disclosed service fee.