Asan Medical Center Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center Accredited as 'Center of Excellence' by World Endoscopy Organization

Only 20 Institutions Worldwide
Asan Medical Center Is the Only Accredited Center in Korea

Asan Medical Center in Seoul announced on the 13th that its Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center has been accredited as a 'Center of Excellence in Endoscopy' by the World Endoscopy Organization (WEO).

Professor Byun Jungsik of the Department of Gastroenterology at Asan Medical Center, Seoul (right), is performing a colonoscopy procedure. Asan Medical Center, Seoul

The World Endoscopy Organization is an international academic society in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy, with participation from endoscopy-related associations and experts worldwide. It operates the 'Center of Excellence in Endoscopy' accreditation system, which comprehensively evaluates the number and success rate of endoscopic procedures, publication records in SCI-level international journals, medical staff training, and multi-center clinical research activities, thereby certifying institutions that demonstrate the highest standards in clinical care, education, and research.

Globally, only 20 institutions have received the 'Center of Excellence in Endoscopy' accreditation, and Asan Medical Center is the only institution in Korea to have achieved this distinction. To maintain the certification, centers must undergo re-evaluation every five years. The Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center at Asan Medical Center has now been accredited for the third time, following previous accreditations in 2015 and 2021.

The Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center at Asan Medical Center is divided into upper endoscopy, lower endoscopy, pancreatobiliary endoscopy, and gastrointestinal function testing divisions. Specialized diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases using endoscopy are performed in a total of 30 examination rooms. Since its opening in 1989, the center has performed approximately 2,253,000 endoscopic procedures as of July this year.

In particular, the center has achieved outstanding results in endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal tumors such as early gastric cancer and early colorectal cancer, a variety of pancreatobiliary interventions, endoscopic ultrasound procedures, and gastrointestinal function testing. Based on world-class expertise and proficiency, the center performed 3,856 mucosal resections, 1,273 submucosal dissections, 3,127 polypectomies, 7,995 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCP), 3,500 endoscopic ultrasounds, and 3,800 functional tests in the past year alone.

In addition to its clinical work, the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center at Asan Medical Center also takes a leading role as an educational institution, contributing to the advancement of the endoscopy field. Since 2018, Professors Seo Dongwan, Song Taejun, and Oh Dongwook from the Department of Gastroenterology have been operating the international endoscopic ultrasound education program known as WISE.

WISE is a specialized training program that imparts procedural know-how to young medical professionals under the age of 45 who wish to systematically learn endoscopic ultrasound techniques. Participants complete a five-stage curriculum, ranging from basic to interventional procedures, over the course of one year. As of this year, a total of 311 medical professionals from 41 countries, including the United States, India, and Brazil, have completed the WISE program.

Furthermore, since 2014, the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center at Asan Medical Center has continuously participated in the IYEA program of the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, providing opportunities for physicians from around the world to visit Asan Medical Center, observe endoscopic procedures, and receive training.

As a result of its leading role in advancing the field of gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center recently ranked fourth in the world in the field of gastroenterology in Newsweek's 'World's Best Hospitals 2026 by Clinical Specialty,' standing alongside Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Massachusetts General Hospital of Harvard Medical School in the United States.

Byun Jungsik, Director of the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center at Asan Medical Center, stated, "Achieving the 'Center of Excellence in Endoscopy' accreditation from the World Endoscopy Organization is the result of the entire medical team's organic teamwork and dedication across clinical care, research, and education. We will continue to provide world-class medical care and lead advancements in endoscopic diagnosis and treatment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.