Korea University Anam Hospital performs first cross-border remote surgery

Professor Kang Seok-ho of Korea University Anam Hospital successfully demonstrated the first cross-border remote surgery in South Korea. During the 78th Korean Urological Association (KUA 2026) academic conference held at COEX in Seoul, Professor Kang operated a surgical robot located in Shanghai, China, from a console in Seoul.

The demonstration utilized the ‘Toumai’ surgical robot from MicroPort MedBot. Despite a straight-line distance of approximately 870 km, the robot arms in Shanghai responded to the surgeon's movements in real time to perform surgery on an animal model. This achievement highlights the potential of 5G, fiber-optic, and satellite communication technologies to reduce latency and enable high-precision remote medical procedures.

While the technical feasibility has been proven, experts note that widespread clinical application requires addressing legal and ethical challenges. These include international medical regulations, physician liability, insurance frameworks, patient data security, and emergency protocols for communication failures. Successful remote surgery could eventually extend to disaster zones, maritime environments, polar regions, and even space.