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폐암 · Lung cancer · ICD-10 C34
Lung cancer: treatment options in Korea
Korea's 5-year relative survival for lung cancer is 42.5% and China's is 28.7%. Since 2019 Korea has run a national low-dose CT screening every two years for heavy smokers aged 54–74; in the pilot, 69.6% of the lung cancers found were early stage, against only 20.7% in ordinary patients. Lazertinib, a lung cancer targeted drug developed in Korea, was approved by the US FDA in 2024 and is the first Korean-made cancer drug approved in the United States.
Why consider Korea
- 5-year relative survival 42.5% (diagnosed 2019–2023)[1]
- 5-year relative survival of lung cancer found at a localized stage is 81.5%[3]
- Compared with 2001–2005, 5-year survival of lung cancer rose from 16.6% to 42.5% (2019–2023), an increase of 25.9 percentage points, the largest of all cancers[1]
- National low-dose CT lung cancer screening: ages 54–74 with 30 or more pack-years of smoking, every two years (since 2019)[4]
- 69.6% of lung cancers found in the screening pilot were early stage, whereas only 20.7% of lung cancer patients in general are found early[4]
- The targeted drug Lazertinib, developed in Korea, was approved by the US FDA in August 2024 (with amivantamab), the first Korean-made cancer drug approved in the United States[5]
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 | In the national low-dose CT screening pilot, 69.6% of cancers found were early stage (20.7% in ordinary patients) | No national data on the stage distribution of lung cancer at diagnosis have been found yet | Better none than unreliable: there is no reliable national Chinese data, so this cell is left empty for now[4] |
Treatments
Low-dose CT lung cancer screening Screening / tests
A chest CT with a lower radiation dose than ordinary CT, used to look for small lung nodules. Since 2019 Korea has included it in national cancer screening for high-risk people aged 54–74 with a smoking history of 30 pack-years or more, once every two years.Cost in Korea: USD 207official price
Thoracoscopic / robotic lung resection Surgery
A few small holes are made in the side of the chest and a thoracoscope or surgical robot is used to remove the lobe or segment of lung containing the tumor, with lymph node dissection. The main treatment for early non-small cell lung cancer.Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) Radiotherapy
High-dose radiation is focused precisely on the tumor from many directions, usually finished in a few sessions. Used for early lung cancer when surgery is not possible or not wanted, and for some metastases.EGFR-targeted therapy (incl. lazertinib) Medication
EGFR gene mutations are common in lung adenocarcinoma in East Asian patients. Patients with a mutation can take drugs that target EGFR. Lazertinib, developed in Korea (Korean brand name Leclaza), was approved by the US FDA in August 2024 for use with amivantamab as first-line treatment, the first Korean-made cancer drug approved in the United States.Hospitals
Samsung Medical Center 삼성서울병원
Newsweek 2026 oncology: 3rd in the world; lung and esophageal centerAsan Medical Center, Seoul 서울아산병원
Newsweek 2026 oncology: 4th in the world; lung cancer center; thoracoscopic and robotic surgerySeoul National University Hospital 서울대학교병원
Newsweek 2026 oncology: 8th in the world; lung cancer center; specializes in lung cancer and lung transplantSeverance Hospital, Yonsei University 세브란스병원
Thoracic surgery; performs robotic lung cancer surgery and lung transplantKorea University Anam Hospital 고려대학교 안암병원
Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery; performs minimally invasive robotic and thoracoscopic surgeryDoctors
Young Tae Kim 김영태 · Seoul National University Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: lung cancer, lung transplant, chest wall tumors, lung metastases[7]In Kyu Park 박인규 · Seoul National University Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: lung cancer, lung metastases, malignant mesothelioma, airway surgery, mediastinal tumors (thymic tumors and others)[7]Yong-Hee Kim 김용희 · Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Specialties listed on the hospital website: lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thoracoscopic surgery (lung cancer, esophageal cancer), da Vinci robotic surgery, malignant mesothelioma[8]Seung-Il Park 박승일 · Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Specialties listed on the hospital website: lung cancer, tracheal disease, lung transplant, chest tumors, thoracoscopic surgery[8]Jong Ho Cho 조종호 · Samsung Medical Center
Specialties listed on the hospital website: thoracoscopic surgery, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, airway disease, thymoma and mediastinal tumors, da Vinci robotic surgery[9]Jung Hee Lee 이정희 · Samsung Medical Center
Specialties listed on the hospital website: lung cancer, lung surgery, mediastinal disease, thoracoscopic surgery, da Vinci robotic surgery, lung transplant[9]Jin Gu Lee 이진구 · Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Specialties listed on the hospital website: lung transplant, lung cancer, thymoma and myasthenia gravis, mediastinal tumors, interstitial lung disease[10]Chang Young Lee 이창영 · Severance Hospital, Yonsei University
Specialties listed on the hospital website: lung cancer, ground-glass nodules, mediastinal tumors, robotic surgery, tracheal and bronchial disease[10]Jae Ho Chung 정재호 · Korea University Anam Hospital
Specialties listed on the hospital website: lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors (thymoma), minimally invasive surgery (robotic or thoracoscopic)[11]Coming to Korea for treatment
Documents to prepare: Chest CT (preferably the original imaging disc), PET-CT (if available), Biopsy pathology report, Genetic test results (EGFR, ALK and so on, if available), Lung function test
Time in Korea: about 7~14 daysestimate, of which in hospital about 3~7 days
After returning home: After surgery, follow-up chest CT is done regularly; long-term treatment such as targeted drugs can be discussed with the Korean doctor about continuing at home.
FAQ
- A lung nodule was found at a checkup; do I need to go to Korea for surgery?
- Most lung nodules are benign. It depends on the size and density of the nodule and whether it changes during follow-up; many only need regular rechecks. It is best to give the original CT images to a doctor for assessment before deciding whether surgery is needed.
- Are targeted drugs available in Korea?
- Yes. Lazertinib, developed in Korea, was approved in Korea in 2021, and in 2024 the US FDA approved it with amivantamab as first-line treatment for EGFR-mutated lung cancer. Whether you can use it depends on genetic testing first and the doctor's judgment.[5][6]
- Why has lung cancer survival in Korea improved so quickly?
- Korea's 5-year lung cancer survival rose from 16.6% in 2001–2005 to 42.5% in 2019–2023, an increase of 25.9 percentage points, the largest of all cancers. National low-dose CT screening since 2019 has allowed more lung cancers to be found early, and the 5-year survival of lung cancer found at a localized stage is 81.5%.[1][4][3]