Korea University Ansan Hospital announced on July 8 the introduction of the "Da Vinci 5" robotic surgical system at its Robotic Surgery Center, marking the first deployment of this technology among tertiary hospitals in Gyeonggi Province. The hospital reported that Professor Tae Jin Song of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery performed the inaugural procedure using the new system—a robotic cholecystectomy for a patient with cholecystitis—on March 3.
Since adopting robotic surgery in 2015, Korea University Ansan Hospital has expanded its use across various specialties, including general surgery, urology, gynecology, and plastic surgery. By 2025, it had surpassed 4,000 cumulative robotic procedures. The center recently added three new operating rooms and redistributed its existing Da Vinci Xi and Da Vinci SP systems to create a multi-platform infrastructure now featuring three distinct systems.
The Da Vinci 5 system includes force feedback technology that allows surgeons to perceive tactile forces through instruments for more precise tissue manipulation. Its advanced visualization offers high-resolution, near-realistic three-dimensional imaging to help identify fine vascular and neural structures. The surgeon console is ergonomically designed to reduce physical strain during long procedures. The hospital said these features are expected to improve both precision and safety in surgeries.
Surgeons at the center have also developed innovative techniques that have gained international recognition. Professor Chang Min Lee introduced Transumbilical Lymphadenectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer (TULAB) using an articulating energy device; his work was published in Cancers (2023). Professor Jae Hyun Bae pioneered an air insufflation technique for vesicovaginal fistula repair using the Da Vinci SP system by creating a balloon-like operative space within the bladder to enhance visualization and manipulation.
Professor Young Woo Chang developed GOSTA (Gas-Insufflation One-Step Single-Port Transaxillary Approach) for thyroid cancer surgery with international recognition. Intuitive Surgical Korea designated the center as an Epicenter for Single-Port GOSTA Robotic Surgery, making it a global hub for training on this technique.
Dong Hun Suh, President of Korea University Ansan Hospital, said, "The adoption of the Da Vinci 5 represents not merely an expansion of equipment, but a strategic step toward enhancing patient safety and clinical outcomes. Building on our accumulated experience and innovative surgical techniques, we will continue to deliver world-class precision robotic surgery."
