Prof. Yoon Sung-ho

Prof. Yoon Sung-ho is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, one of South Korea's oldest and most respected academic medical centres. With over 24 years of experience, he is widely recognized as a leading authority in joint replacement surgery and spine surgery in the Asia Pacific region.

After completing his medical training at Yonsei University, Prof. Yoon undertook subspecialty fellowships in total joint arthroplasty in the United States and in spinal surgery in Germany. He has since pioneered the adoption of robotic-assisted knee and hip replacement programs at Severance Hospital, positioning the centre at the forefront of precision orthopedic surgery in South Korea.

Prof. Yoon has performed more than 4,500 joint replacement procedures and has a particular interest in revision arthroplasty — complex re-operative surgery for patients with failed previous joint replacements. He also manages a high volume of spine cases, including lumbar degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and cervical myelopathy.

His practice draws a significant number of international patients, particularly from Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Southeast Asia, who travel to South Korea specifically for orthopedic procedures combining technical excellence with competitive costs compared to Western centres.

Prof. Yoon Sung-ho earned his MD from Yonsei University College of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Severance Hospital before undertaking a total joint replacement fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, and a spinal surgery observership at the Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

He is board-certified in Orthopedic Surgery by the Korean Orthopaedic Association. Prof. Yoon serves as a faculty member at Yonsei University College of Medicine, where he directs the joint replacement surgery training program and supervises orthopedic surgery residents and fellows.

Prof. Yoon's primary subspecialty is total joint arthroplasty, encompassing primary and revision total knee replacement (TKR), total hip replacement (THR), and unicompartmental knee replacement. He is one of the early adopters of robotic-assisted joint replacement in South Korea, using MAKO robotic technology to optimize implant positioning and improve functional outcomes.

In spine surgery, he manages lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative scoliosis, and cervical myelopathy. He performs both minimally invasive and open spinal fusion procedures.

He also has expertise in sports medicine including arthroscopic procedures for knee and shoulder injuries, ACL reconstruction, and cartilage restoration. He routinely manages patients with advanced osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis affecting multiple joints.

Prof. Yoon has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications in journals including the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, and the Journal of Arthroplasty. His research focuses on outcomes of robotic-assisted versus conventional total knee arthroplasty, implant longevity in Asian patient populations, and minimally invasive spine surgery techniques.

He has been an investigator in multicenter randomized controlled trials evaluating new-generation joint replacement implants and has contributed to Korean Orthopaedic Association clinical guidelines. Prof. Yoon has presented at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting and the Asian Pacific Orthopaedic Association Congress.

Prof. Yoon Sung-ho sees a substantial volume of international patients at Severance Hospital, which has a dedicated international health care centre. He consults in Korean and English and his team provides medical interpreter services for Russian, Mongolian, and other languages.

Patients travelling for elective joint replacement can typically complete pre-operative assessment and surgery within a single visit of 7–10 days. Prof. Yoon's team coordinates with the patient's home country physician for post-discharge rehabilitation instructions and long-term follow-up planning.

Video consultations are available for initial case review, allowing patients to share X-rays and MRI images for assessment before travelling. The hospital's international patient coordinators assist with cost estimates, visa letters, and accommodation.

Prof. Yoon received the Korean Orthopaedic Association's Distinguished Achievement Award for contributions to joint replacement surgery research. He has been named among South Korea's leading orthopedic surgeons in independent medical rankings.

He serves as President of the Korean Knee Society and has been an invited faculty member at the International Congress for Joint Reconstruction, the AAOS Annual Meeting, and the APOA Congress. He has also served as a surgical proctor for robotic joint replacement programs at hospitals in Southeast Asia.