The Standard for ENT Specialty Hospitals in the Republic of Korea, Hana ENT Hospital

1. Overview

Hana ENT Hospital has grown since its opening in 1995 under the banner of 'patient-centered medical care.' It is the first and only ENT specialty hospital in Seoul, designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Based on the core values of "First, Only, Together," the hospital provides specialized treatment and surgery for nose, throat, ear, and head & neck disorders. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, it is taking a leap to become a world-class ENT hospital.

2. Hospital History and Growth

●     Foundation and Growth Period (1995~2007): From its early days, the hospital pioneered the introduction of endoscopic sinus surgery and navigation surgery systems, surpassing 10,000 cumulative surgeries just five years after opening in 2000. In 2006, it achieved the national top ranking for sinus surgery performance based on the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service standards, proving its expertise beyond general university hospitals.

●     Leaping Period (2008~2019): In November 2009, the hospital was upgraded from a clinic to a hospital, significantly expanding its focus from nose diseases to include ear and throat fields. In 2011, it was designated as Korea's first ENT specialty hospital and, in the same year, was the first hospital-level institution in Seoul to achieve healthcare accreditation.

●     Second Leap Period (2020~Present): During the COVID-19 pandemic, it contributed to national quarantine efforts by operating as a national safe hospital and a respiratory clinic exclusively dedicated to respiratory patients. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, it continues to expand into high-difficulty medical areas, including the opening of the 'H Reverse Aging Center' and the commencement of cochlear implant surgeries.

3. Status as a Specialty Hospital and Certification Status

Hana ENT Hospital has been publicly recognized for the quality of its medical care and patient safety by the government and reliable institutions.

●     Ministry of Health and Welfare Designated ENT Specialty Hospital (5 Consecutive Terms): Starting with its first designation in 2011 and continuing through its 5th designation in 2024, it has continuously maintained its specialty hospital status. This national recognition affirms that the hospital performs high-difficulty medical procedures at a university hospital level. As of 2025, it is the only ENT specialty hospital located in Seoul.

●     Ministry of Health and Welfare Healthcare Accreditation (4 Consecutive Terms): Since first obtaining healthcare accreditation in 2011—a process that requires passing over 300 strict standards for patient safety and improving the quality of medical services—it has continuously achieved accreditation through the 4th term in 2023, maintaining the best medical environment.

●     Collaboration and Network: It has established a network of 42 Hana ENT clinics nationwide to provide standardized medical services. In 2025, it is participating in the Advanced General Hospital Structure Conversion Support Project, playing a core role as a secondary medical institution by receiving referrals for minor surgeries from large hospitals such as Samsung Medical Center.

4. Medical Staff Status (As of 2025)

The medical staff, which numbered 2 at the time of opening, has expanded to a total of 17 specialists as of 2025. Expertise has been maximized by recruiting renowned doctors from Korea's 'Big 5' advanced general hospitals.

●     Composition: 13 ENT specialists, 1 Internal Medicine specialist, 1 Neurology specialist, 2 Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine specialists.

●     Key Medical Staff:

○     Dong Heon-Jong (Representative Director): Former Vice President of Samsung Medical Center, leading authority in nose diseases.

○     Lee Sang-Deok (Hospital Director): Founder, Former President of the Korean Association of Specialty Hospitals.

○     Joo Hyung-Ro (Director): Head of the Tonsil/Adenoid Disease Center.

○     Jang Seon-Oh (Director, Ear Disease Center): Former Chief of ENT at Seoul National University Hospital, authority in cochlear implants and otitis media.

○     Nam Soon-Yeol (Director, Head & Neck Center): Former Chief of ENT at Asan Medical Center, authority in head and neck cancer surgery.

○     Jang Jeong-Hoon (Associate Medical Director): Head of the Cochlear Implant Center (Former Professor at Ajou University Hospital).

●     Collaborative System: In addition to ENT, specialists in Internal Medicine, Neurology, and Anesthesiology are on-site to provide a multidisciplinary collaborative system for pre-operative tests, sleep apnea, and dizziness.

5. Surgery Performance and Key Treatment Areas

Hana ENT Hospital boasts overwhelming surgical performance based on its extensive clinical experience.

5-1. Key Performance (Statistics)

●     Cumulative Outpatients: Exceeded 3 million (Achieved in 2024, approximately 3.04 million as of March 2025).

●     Cumulative Surgeries: Exceeded 70,000 (Achieved in 2023, 73,458 as of March 2025).

●     2025 Annual Performance:

○     Annual Surgeries: 3,486 cases (41% increase year-over-year).

○     Annual Outpatients: 85,196 people.

5-2. Key Surgeries and Treatment Areas

The hospital performs high-difficulty surgeries in the nose, throat, and ear fields through disease-specific center organization.

●     Nose Diseases:

○     Sinusitis (Rhinosinusitis) Surgery: Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS) using a navigation system, balloon catheter dilation, etc. Performing over 1,300 surgeries annually.

○     Deviated Septum and Rhinoplasty: Functional rhinoplasty and septoplasty.

●     Throat/Neck Diseases:

○     Tonsil/Adenoid Surgery: Applying pain-minimizing techniques such as PITA (Powered Intracapsular Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy). Accounts for the largest proportion of surgeries within the hospital (approx. 49% as of 2025).

○     Head & Neck Surgery: Thyroid, salivary gland tumor, laryngeal microsurgery, etc. Enhanced capability since the appointment of Director Nam Soon-Yeol.

○     Sleep Center: Polysomnography and surgery for snoring/sleep apnea (UPPP, etc.), CPAP prescription.

●     Ear Diseases:

○     Cochlear Implant Surgery: First successful surgery in October 2025, officially beginning high-difficulty surgery for hearing loss patients.

○     Otitis Media Surgery: Tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, etc.

●     H Reverse Aging Center: Opened in 2023, providing integrated treatment for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, dizziness, tinnitus, and facial paralysis.

6. Conclusion

Looking ahead to 2026, Hana ENT Hospital is focused on maintaining the highest quality of medical care under the mission of "serving the patient," moving beyond mere quantitative growth. The recruitment of renowned doctors who are former university hospital professors, the introduction of cutting-edge equipment (Whole-Body CT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, etc.), and 30 years of clinical data are tokens of its promise to be the most trusted hospital for patients. Hana ENT Hospital will continue to fulfill its role as the representative specialty hospital responsible for the public's ear, nose, and throat health in the Republic of Korea.