FIRST TECHNOLOGY! BEST HOPE! TOTAL CARE IN SPINE!!!
WOORIDUL HOSPITAL - THE SPECIALIZED GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH SPINE TOTAL CARE SYSTEM
WELCOME TO WOORIDUL HOSPITAL
Wooridul Hospital established in Busan in 1982, has been striving to be the world’s leading spine hospital with the state of the art equipment and technology. Based upon minimally invasive treatment principle, Wooridul Hospital has investigated and developed various spine treatments to act up to patient’s expectation for minimal scars and fast recovery.
As a result, Wooridul Hospital has performed nearly 80,000 spine procedures including both open and minimally invasive approaches and accomplished academic achievement by publication of 171 papers in SCI journals of worldwide authority by 2010.These results were achieved by the integrated cooperation of a multi disciplinary team including:
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neurosurgeons;
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orthopedic surgeons;
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internal medicine physicians;
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rehabilitation physicians;
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thoracic and general surgeons.
This integrated team and over 1,200 employees of Wooridul Hospital have contributed to the health and welfare of the patients and their families over 30 years together.
In addition, we would mostly like to attribute our success in retaining our position as the world’s best hospital to the love and concern of patients from all over the world who trust and approve our treatment philosophies and surgical techniques.
Based in Seoul, 5 Wooridul Hospitals in Korea are providing everything about spine treatment. In order to make a lead to be global spine hospital, Wooridul Hospital opened 4 hospitals including Shanghai, Jakarta, Dubai, and Istanbul.
Since 1982, Wooridul has earned the reputation as one of the world's finest spine care facilities, with hospital centers throughout South Korea,China, Indonesia and Dubai.
SEOUL WOORIDUL HOSPITAL, FIRST KOREAN SPECIALIZED JCI ACCREDITED HOSPITAL FULL SCORE OF IPSG(INTERNATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS)
Wooridul Hospital has been selected as the "World Best International Hospital" from Medical Tourism Association (MTA) in 2008, in January 2010, they have received "Top 10 International Hospitals for medical tourists" that in announced by Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA).
Incomparable Pioneer
Wooridul Hospital drew public attention by developing the world's first discectomy using endoscopic laser. Minimally invasive spinal surgery is judged to be a great success in lumbar, cervical and thoracic treatment area.
Team Diagnosis and Team Surgery System
Because of continuous investment in advamced eruipment and 5 complete diagnostic steps, Wooridul Hospital has improved the surgical and non-surgical treatment success rate and recovery period.
A Special Service for Foreign Patients
Wooridul Hospital established 'Wooridul International Patients Center (WIPC)' to provide a better medical service to foreign patients which assist the patient during their visit. WIPC provides consultation and agency business to foreign patients in four different languages, English, Japanese, Chinese and Russian.
THE WORLD LEADING SPINE HOSPITAL OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE SURGERY
SURGICAL TECHNIQUE
Wooridul Hospital offers Total Care Solutions of Neuro-Musculoskeletal system including:
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Endoscopic Spine Surgery 
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Microscopic Spine Surgery
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Laser-Assisted Spine Surgery
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Image-Guided Spine Surgery
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CT-Guided Spine Surgery
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Artificial Disc Replacement
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Anterior/Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
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Laparoscopic Surgery
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Thoracoscopic Surgery
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Soft Stabilization with Ligamentoplasty
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Vertebroplasty / Kyphoplasty
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Deformity Correction
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Joint (Hip, Knee and ankle) Surgery
Wooridul Hospital also has developed the new treatments for spine disorders without surgery.
‘CT-image Guided Spinal Micro Therapy’, the newest injection therapy, is safe, fast and accurate, because of using the multidetector CT (MD-CT) and 3-dimentional multiple image system. Monitoring with the real-time computer navigation, medicine is inserted only into lesion exactly. Wooridul Hospital was the first to succeed in this therapy in Korea.
X-MRI is the World's first system, which combines the interventional X-Ray and MRI that enables doctors to scan sectional views of the spine. With the aid of X-MRI, the proper surgical pathway can be decided through the MRI, and since the disc can be removed by endoscopic laser right after the decision, the success rate of minimally invasive treatment can be increased very high. Also the complication rate is very low since the result of the treatment can be checked before the completion of the treatment.
Non-Surgical Offerings include:
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Rehabilitation
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Pain Management
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Internal Medicine
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Conservative care
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Physiotherapy
Why do foreign patients choose to travel to South Korea for treatment?
 
Excellent and skilled physicians, state-of-the-art technology and some of the most advanced healthcare facilities in the world continue to draw medical travelers to South Korea for medical treatments and procedures in organ transplantation, cancer therapy treatments, dental care, plastic and cosmetic surgery and many others. Medical care costs in South Korea are generally ten times less than costs found in the U.S.
South Korea is the leading healthcare country in all of Asia and provides world-class medical and health care in non-profit organizations and facilities that place patient care above profit. Government agencies accredit all facilities and hospitals, ensuring quality of care throughout the country.
WSH PLACE "NUMBER ONE HOSPITAL FOR SPINAL DISEASE" BY CONSTANTLY DEVELOPING NEW TREATMENT METHODS AND PUBLISHIING THEM WORLD WIDE
Center Details
Seoul Wooridul Spine Hospital opened 2004 and now has expanded with 200 beds, 35 medical staffs. There is Neuro-Musculoskeletal Diseases Center of Wooridul Spine Hospital has the most advanced medical technologies and equipments being able to provide various treatments not only for general spinal disorders but also other joint diseases. Also, Seoul Wooridul Hospital, first Korean specialized hospital received JCI accreditation on December of 2010.
Wooridul Hospital has been trying to focus on spine and has really grown up to be the world's leading spine hospital in the last 29 years. The advanced medical treatments and technologies, started in 1982, have known throughout the world for the best in the field of spine. The total number of Interventional Therapies and Surgical Treatments cases performed in Wooridul Hospital was 81,121 in year of 2010.
WOORIDUL INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS CENTER
It is one of the largest privately owned spine specialized hospitals in Korea. Following its inception in the city of Busan in 1982, Wooridul Spine Hospital (WSH) has taken great strides and established other spine care hospitals in the cities of Seoul, Gimpo Airport and Daegu. Jeju island WSH will be opened by year 2008.
The motto has been to provide total spine care, utilizing modern state of art diagnostics and operating facilities. The hospitals have a comprehensive spine care program that includes all investigational facilities as well as pain management and physiotherapy.
The last two decades have seen great developments in the philosophy of minimal invasive spine surgery. Reduced disability and discomfort are making them more popular with the local population. It establishes their techniques and simultaneously trains the local spine surgeons to propagate them further.
W.S.H is rapidly becoming recognized as one of the world leading authorities in spine care and treatment. With over 17,000 cases being performed annually among 3 centers (Seoul, Busan, and Gimpo Airport) W.S.H is the largest spine health care group in Asia. W.S.H has over 108 Spine Specialists, over 600 beds, 48 operation rooms among 4 centers (Seoul, Busan, Gimpo Airport, and Daegu). Throughout Asia, WSH has become recognized as a center of excellence in research for minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery techniques with over 100 clinical papers published up to date.
WE HAVE TOTALLY 6 BRANCHES OF WOORIDUL HOSPITAL
Seoul Wooridul Hospital
ADDRESS: 676 Gwahae-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Korea
(inside og Gimpo airport)
Seoul Chungdam Wooridul Hospital
ADDRESS: 47-4 Chungdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Busan Wooridul Hospital
ADDRESS: 153-8 Oncheon-dong, Dongrae-gu, Busan, Korea
Dongrae Wooridul Spine Hospital
ADDRESS: 205-10 Nakmin-dong, Dongrae-gu, Busan, Korea
Daegu Wooridul Spine Hospital
ADDRESS: 503-3 2-ga Dongin-dong, Jung-Gu, Daegu, Korea
Shanghai Wooridul Hospital
ADDRESS: (No.46,Guo He Road) No.106, Shi Guang Yi Cun, Shanghai, China.
According to the research result in 2002 from the 19 international spine specialized centers that perform minimally invasive spinal surgery, Wooridul Hospital has performed 8,000 cases and took the first ranking.
The most common disease treated by minimally invasive spinal surgery is lumbar disc herniation. The soft lumbar disk herniation is defined as when the annulus fibrosis surrounding disc between the vertebral bodies is torn and the nucleus pulposus is herniated so that it could compress the nerve root and spinal cord. It could cause either back pain or leg pain.
The conventional open surgery is performed under the naked eye which requires a huge incision. Meanwhile Wooridul Hospital’s Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS), like as Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy (PELD), is not the conventional excision but a treatment which is between the conservative and open surgery. With the 0.6cm of endoscope, the surgeon could observe the inside with safety. Patient is in prone position under the local anesthesia so as to communicate with the surgeons and nurses. Microlaser is precise enough to make a 0.3mm spot between fingerprints. PELD preserves vertebrae and normal nucleus pulposus and removes only the lesional site so that there is no risk of evoking the neural adhesion. In addition, it is bloodless surgery and no transfusion is required. It saves the time and the costs. Due to rapid recovery compared to open surgeries, it is the preferred method for workers and students that desire an early return-to-work.
Our facilities:
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Single Deluxe Room Upgraded Interiors
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Private bathroom with Shower
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Size : 35.6 square meters
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Internet line
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Private phone
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TV (LCD 32 inch)
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Cable TV
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Private Secretary Box
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Refrigerators (227L, 85L)
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Air Cleaner
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Electronic Bed
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Personal Computer (PC) set
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Sofa set, Tea table, and Chair
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Extra bed for company
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Water purifier
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Humidifier
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Dishware and glasses
Our Services are included:
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Online and Offline Consultation
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Call Center Assist: Reservation and Support
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Setting up Visiting Plan & Cost Consulting
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Assisting Korean Visa Issue
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Interpreter and 1:1 escort service
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Airport Pick-up and Transfer Service
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Introducing Long Term Stay Institution
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International insurance claim
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Providing national / city tour information
In order to reach for 99.9% success rate after treatment, at least 4~6 spinal surgeons constitute a team diagnosis and treatment system to care for each patient. Wooridul Hospital holds a Grand Tele-Conference every Friday morning and connects each of the regional Wooridul Hospital with live interaction sharing information. This interactive program provides real time exchange of up to date medical treatment and experience which improves patient care outcome.
Treatments & Prices
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Minimally Invasive Spinal Treatment Clinic
The advanced spinal surgical technique developed by Wooridul Hospital is bloodless and minimally invasive to save normal disc tissue. Short term admission, small incision, minimal scars, and reduced complications, this is what we are doing for patients.
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Minimally Invasive Bloodless Spinal Fusion
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5 Complete Diagnostic Steps
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Less damage/ preservation of normal structures
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Step-by-Step spine treatment considering patient conditions
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The 5th Digital Spine Operation
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Treatment for Elderly Patient
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Computer Navigation Joint Clinic
We do our best to make the patients live without any complications for the rest of their lives. Moreover, we never stop trying to improve ourselves to make patients return to their normal lives, so that they can enjoy sports and leisure like when they were healthy.
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Computer Assisted Navigation Surgery
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Save the Normal Tissues
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Professionally Specialized Care System for Knee, Shoulder, Ankle and Hip Joints
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Bio-compatible Artificial Joint with FDA Approval
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Various Kinds of Artificial Joint
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Heath Screening and Promotion Center
The Health Screening Center makes all efforts to ensure lifelong health with far advanced equipments and individualized services for the early diagnosis or prevention of increasing diseases such as cancer, cerebral diseases, and cardiac diseases.
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MRA
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Possible earlier detection and prevention of cerebral aneurysm and stroke
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Excellent resolution of images as a non-invasive test with no input of contract media
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Need not to be hospitalized for the test like the general angiography
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64-Channel MDCT
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Surgical Procedure
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Cervical
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Thoracic
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Lumbar
 
PELD is performed with the patient in the prone or lateral position on a radiolucent frame. A C-arm is positioned to ensure reproducible AP and lateral imaging.
Open pedicle screw fixation (OPF)
Total disc replacement (TDR)
The advantages of TDR over fusion, say proponents, are faster recovery time, less postoperative pain and the retention of full motion. This artificial disc will do for spine surgery what the artificial joint. The goal of the disc prosthesis is to relieve pain caused by problems and pinched nerves in the lower spine. The diseased disc is replaced by special metal and polyethylene implants.
Prosthetic disc nucleus (PDN)
Qualifications, Accreditations & Certifications
MEDICAL STAFF
Ho Yeon Lee, M.D.,Ph.D.
Specialty : Neurosurgery
Hospital : Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul Korea
Title : President
Education
College of Medicine, Seoul National University (M.D.)
College of Medicine, University of Ulsam (Ph.D.)
Internship at Seoul National University Hospital
Resident at Asan Medical Center
Appointment
Fellow of American Board of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
Director of Legislation Committee & the 1st Spine Surgery Team at Wooridul Spine Hosptial
Publication
Key Engineering Materials, Vols. 284-286 (2005) pp 93-96
Preparation and In Vivo Studies of ß-TCP Based Bone
Cement Containing Polyphosphate (kyung-Sik Oh, Young-Keun Jeong, Jae-Pil Yu, Soo-Kyung Chae, Hong-Yeol Kim, Ho-Yeon Lee, and Sin-Soo Jeun)
Neurosurgery 55: E455-E459, 2004
Percutaneous Ventral decompression of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis in medically compromised elderly patients technical case report. (Lee HY, Ahn Y, Kim DY, Shin SW, Lee SH )
Spine. 2004 Aug 15;29(16):E326-32
Percutaneous Endoscopic lumbar discectomy for recurrent disc herniation:surgical technique, outcome, and prognostic factors of 43consecutive cases. (Ahn Y, Lee SH, Park WM, Lee HY, Shin SW, Kang HY)
J Neurosurg. 2004 Jan;100(1 Suppl):24-31
Intravertebral vacuum phenomenon in osteoporotic compression fracture: report of 67 cases with quantitative evaluation of intravertebral instability (Kim DY, Lee SH, Jang JS, Chung SK, Lee HY)
Eur Spine J. 2003 Dec;12(6):613-7
Comparative study of laparoscopic L5-S1 fusion versus open mini-ALIF, with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Chung SK, Lee SH, Lim SR, Kim DY, Jang JS, Nam KS, Lee HY)
Award
Marquis Who's Who "Who's Who In Medicine and Healthcare" (2004 - 2006)
Won Gyu Choi, M.D., Ph.D.
Specialty : Neurosurgery
Hospital : Wooridul Spine Hospital, Busan Korea
Title : President
Education
College of Medicine, Pusan National University (M.D., Ph.D.)
Intern & Resident at Pusan National University Hospital
Visiting Fellow at Arizona Phoenix Barrow Neurological Institute, USA
Visiting Fellow at Bordeaux University Hospital Spine Center, France
Appointment
Fellow of American Board of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
President at Wooridul Spine Hosptial
Publication
J Spinal Disord Tech. 2003 Aug;16(4):324-30.
Partial disc replacement with the PDN prosthetic disc nucleus device: early clinical results. Shim CS, Lee SH, Park CW, Choi WC, Choi G, Choi WG, Lim SR, Lee HY.
Jee Soo Jang, MD, PhD
Specialty : Neurosurgery
Hospital : Gimpo Airport Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul Korea
Title : President
Education
Spine Fellowship, Dept. of Orthopedics, Spine Center State
University of New York, C, Syracuse
Ph.D. (Neurosurgery), Chung-ang University, College of Medicine
M.S.(Neurosurgery), Chung-ang University, College of Medicine
Bachelor, M.D., Chung-ang University, College of Medicine
Appointment
Department of Neurosurgery, Gimpo Airport Wooridul Spine Hospital, Chief
Department of Neurosurgery, Wooridul Spine Hospital, Chief
Chief, section III(Spine), Department of Neurosurgery, Korea Cancer
Center Hospital, Chief, Pain Clinic, Korea Cancer Center Hospital
Medical officers, Chief Neurosurgeon, Department of Neurosurgery, Kwang Joo Veterance Hospital
Resident in Department of Neurosurgery, Chung-ang University Hospital
Internship in Medicine, Chung-ang University Hospital
Graduation of Chung-ang University Medical School
Korean Spine Society
Korean Neurological Surgery Society
Korean Spine & Pain Research Society
North American Spine Society(NASS)
Congress of Korean Society for minimal intervention in Spinal Surgery Member
Executive secretary of permanent committee of Korean Society of Spine Surgery
Won-Chul Choi, M.D.
Specialty : Neurosurgery
Hospital : Wooridul Spine Hospital, Daegu Korea
Title : President
Education
College of Medicine, KyungPook National University (M.D.)
Intern & Resident at National Medical Center
Appointment
Fellow of American Board of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
Vice President of Medical affairs at Wooridul Spine Hosptial
Society
International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS)
Chan Shik Shim, M.D.
Specialty : Neurosurgery
Hospital : Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul Korea
Title : Vice President
Education
College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University (M.D.)
Intern & Resident at Kyung Hee Medical Center
Appointment
Fellow of American Board of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
Vice President of Academic affairs at Wooridul Spine Hosptial
Clinical Professor at Kyung Hee Medical Center
Society
International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS)
Byungjoo Jung, M.D.
Specialty : Neurosurgery
Hospital : Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul Korea
Title : Vice President
Education
College of Medicine, KyungPook National University (M.D.)
Intern & Resident at Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University
Appointment
Fellow of American Board of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
Clinical Associate Professor at College of Medicine, Hallym University
Society
International Musculoskeletal Laser Society (IMLAS)
International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS)
Gun Choi, M.D., Ph.D.
Specialty : Neurosurgery
Hospital : Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul Korea
Title : President of Non-Invasive Spine Surgery Center
Education
College of Medicine, HanYang University (M.D.)
Intern & Resident at HanYang University Hospital
Appointment
Fellow of American Board of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
Clinical Associate Professor at Department of Neurosurgery, HanYang University
Vice President of Medical Affairs at Wooridul Spine Hospital
Society
International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS)
Korean Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery
Executive Committee of Korean Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Research Society
Ho Yeong Kang, M.D.
Specialty : Diagnostic Radiology
Hospital : Nakmin Wooridul Spine Hospital, Busan Korea
Title : President
Education
College of Medicine, Pusan National University (M.D.)
Intern & Resident at National Medical Center
Society
International Musculoskeletal Laser Society (IMLAS)
International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS)
Kwang-Hee Kim, M.D.
Specialty : Anesthesiology
Hospital : Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul Korea
Title : Vice President
Education
College of Medicine, Chonnam National University
Intern at Samsung Cheil Hospital
Resident at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Visiting Fellow at UCLA Medical Center, USA
Appointment
Director of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Wooridul Spine Hospital
Director of Operation Anaesthesia at Wooridul Spine Hospital
Society
International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery (ISMISS)
Korean Pain Society
Korean Pain Research Society
Testimonials
"Whose spine is that?" I said to the radiologist, who replied, - "I'm afraid sir, it's yours."
It was the early 1990's in the United Kingdom, I had just had my first MRI scan, and as a medical practitioner I was allowed into the radiology office, and on the screen were images of a cervical spine which had considerable problems at several levels. To discover it was mine, gave me surprise and concern....
Dr Robert A Wells. M.B. Ch.B. B.Sc. (Hons). M.R.C.G.P. M.B.A. Pt I+II. D.Occ.Med
Read complete testimonial on Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery in Korea
A Numbing Experience!
... Suddenly one evening I was out with friends and felt a sharp pain in my back. On going to bed I found that sleep was impossible and I spent most of the night taking hot baths and pain killers. The following morning I drove to work in great pain but could not get out of the car. I was carried from the car and taken to hospital where a slipped disc was diagnosed and I remained in hospital for four weeks undergoing physiotherapy and rest to attempt a recovery. This was a shock to my system because I had only been away from work for four days during my working life of forty-eight years.
Vincent Marsland. Continental Sime tyre (Malaysia) June 28, 2007
Click Here to read Best Spine Surgery Experience.
Awards & Media Coverage
Local Attractions
Seoul Wooridul Spine Hospital is located at Gimpo International Airport and it is much more convenient for foreign patients. Wooridul International Patients Center (WIPC) has language coordinators who provide Russian, Japanese, English, Chinese, and Spanish various services:
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Online and Offline Consultation
-
Call Center Assist: Reservation and Support
-
Setting up Visiting Plan & Cost Consulting
-
Assisting Korean Visa Issue
-
Interpreter and 1:1 Escort Service
-
Airport Pick-up and Transfer Service
-
Introducing Long Term Stay Institution
Excellent and skilled physicians, state-of-the-art technology and some of the most advanced healthcare facilities in the world continue to draw medical travelers to South Korea for medical treatments and procedures in organ transplantation, cancer therapy treatments, dental care, plastic and cosmetic surgery and many others. Medical care costs in South Korea are generally ten times less than costs found in the U.S.
South Korea is the leading healthcare country in all of Asia and provides world-class medical and health care in non-profit organizations and facilities that place patient care above profit. Government agencies accredit all facilities and hospitals, ensuring quality of care throughout the country.
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