This page was translated from Chinese by AI. If anything differs, the Chinese version prevails.
전립선암 · Prostate cancer · ICD-10 C61
Prostate cancer: treatment options in Korea
Korea's 5-year relative survival for prostate cancer is 96.9% and China's is 71.1%. Korea is one of the Asian countries that began robotic prostate surgery earliest and has the most experience: Severance Hospital introduced the da Vinci robot to Korea in 2005, and Yonsei Cancer Hospital was the first in Asia to complete 5,000 robotic prostate cancer operations. Low-risk patients can also choose active surveillance to avoid overtreatment.
Why consider Korea
- 5-year relative survival 96.9% (diagnosed 2019–2023)[1]
- Severance Hospital introduced the da Vinci surgical robot to Korea in July 2005, and prostatectomy was one of the first operations to use it[3]
- Professor Young Deuk Choi of Yonsei Cancer Hospital completed Asia's first 5,000 robotic prostate cancer operations in 2022hospital or media claim[3]
- Newsweek 2026 World's Best Specialized Hospitals: oncology – Samsung Seoul 3rd, Asan 4th, SNUH 8th; urology – SNUH 2nd, Asan 6th, Samsung Seoul 10th[4]
Korea vs. China
Korean figures are for patients diagnosed in 2019–2023 and Chinese figures for patients diagnosed in 2019–2021. Both are 5-year relative survival rates published by each country's national cancer center. The years and methods are not identical, so only the rough gap is meaningful. Relative survival is compared with the general population of the same age, so values above 100% can occur. Korea's high survival for stomach and colorectal cancer is closely linked to national cancer screening, which finds more cancers early.
| Item | Korea | China | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it is found | — | Experts estimate that more than two-thirds of patients are already at an intermediate-advanced or locally advanced stage at first diagnosis | The Chinese figure is an expert's verbal estimate from 2021, not national registry statistics; no comparable Korean data has been found yetestimate[5] |
Treatments
Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy Surgery
Several small holes are made in the lower abdomen and the surgeon controls a robot to remove the whole prostate and seminal vesicles. The prostate sits deep in the pelvis surrounded by the nerves that control urination and erection; the robot's magnified view and flexible arms allow fine dissection that preserves function as far as possible.Radiotherapy for prostate cancer (incl. proton) Radiotherapy
No incision: the prostate is irradiated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy or proton therapy, often combined with hormone therapy. Suited to localized disease in patients who cannot or do not want surgery, and also used for recurrence after surgery. Samsung Medical Center and some other hospitals have proton therapy centers.High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) Surgery
An ultrasound probe is placed in the rectum and focused ultrasound energy heats and ablates the tumor area in the prostate. Used for some localized low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancers.Active surveillance Monitoring
Many low-risk prostate cancers progress very slowly. Active surveillance means not treating at first, rechecking PSA and MRI regularly and repeating the biopsy when needed, and operating or giving radiotherapy only if the cancer progresses, avoiding aftereffects of overtreatment such as leakage and erectile dysfunction.Hospitals
Severance Hospital, Yonsei University 세브란스병원
The first Korean hospital to introduce the da Vinci robot, with the earliest experience in robotic prostate surgerySeoul National University Hospital 서울대학교병원
Seoul National University Cancer Hospital urology and prostate cancer centerAsan Medical Center, Seoul 서울아산병원
Has a prostate center and a robotic surgery training centerSamsung Medical Center 삼성서울병원
Newsweek 2026 oncology: 3rd in the world; robotic surgery and HIFU treatment for prostate cancerKorea University Anam Hospital 고려대학교 안암병원
Urology; performs minimally invasive robotic laparoscopic surgeryDoctors
Seung Hwan Lee 이승환 · Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, renal pelvis and ureter cancer, testicular cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia[6]Jong Soo Lee 이종수 · Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate cancer, kidney cancer, precision prostate biopsy, kidney donor surgery, ureteral reconstruction, robotic (single-port) surgery[6]Cheol Kwak 곽철 · Seoul National University Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate cancer, kidney cancer, renal pelvis and ureter tumors, robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery[7]Chang Wook Jeong 정창욱 · Seoul National University Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate cancer, kidney cancer, adrenal tumors, testicular cancer[7]Jun Hyuk Hong 홍준혁 · Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate cancer; belongs to the prostate center and robotic surgery training center[8]In Gab Jeong 정인갑 · Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate center (robotic surgery after prostate cancer is confirmed, suspected prostate cancer), prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, robotic surgery[8]Hwang Gyun Jeon 전황균 · Samsung Medical Center
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate cancer, robotic surgery, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for prostate cancer, abnormal PSA[9]Wan Song 송완 · Samsung Medical Center
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate cancer, robotic surgery, HIFU treatment for prostate cancer, abnormal PSA, kidney cancer, adrenal tumors[9]Seok Ho Kang 강석호 · Korea University Anam Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: prostate cancer, bladder cancer, urologic tumors, minimally invasive robotic laparoscopic surgery, abnormal PSA[10]Coming to Korea for treatment
Documents to prepare: PSA test results (preferably with a record of changes over time), Prostate MRI, Needle biopsy pathology (Gleason score), Bone scan or PSMA PET (if available)
Time in Korea: about 7~12 daysestimate, of which in hospital about 3~7 days
After returning home: After surgery PSA is checked regularly; the urinary catheter is usually removed some time after surgery, and bladder control usually returns over weeks to months, during which pelvic floor exercises can help.
FAQ
- Does a high PSA mean prostate cancer?
- Not necessarily. Benign prostatic enlargement and prostatitis can also raise PSA. Diagnosis generally depends on repeated PSA tests and prostate MRI, with a needle biopsy when needed.
- Must low-risk prostate cancer be operated on?
- Not necessarily. Many low-risk prostate cancers progress very slowly and can first be placed under active surveillance: PSA and MRI are checked regularly and treatment starts only if the cancer progresses, avoiding the leakage and erectile problems that surgery or radiotherapy can bring. Whether this suits you is decided by the doctor from the pathology and imaging.
- Will there be urinary leakage after robotic surgery?
- Urinary leakage is common for a while early after surgery, and most patients recover gradually within weeks to months; pelvic floor exercises help. How fast it recovers depends on age, tumor location and whether the nerves can be preserved.