South Korea lung cancer survival rates improve amid widening socioeconomic gap

The National Health Insurance Service and the Korean Lung Cancer Association have released the ‘2026 Lung Cancer Fact Sheet,’ providing a comprehensive analysis of lung cancer trends in South Korea from 2008 to 2025.

Data shows that while the total number of lung cancer patients is increasing due to an aging population, the age-standardized incidence rate has steadily declined from 67.3 per 100,000 in 2008 to 62.1 in 2025. Improvements in early diagnosis and treatment technologies, such as targeted and immunotherapy, have significantly boosted survival rates. The one-year survival rate rose from 48.8% in 2008 to 70.3% in 2024, and the five-year survival rate more than doubled from 18.7% in 2008 to 38.4% in 2020.

Despite these medical advancements, the report highlights a stark survival gap driven by socioeconomic factors. The five-year survival rate for the highest-income group reached 71.0%, whereas it was only 36.9% for medical welfare recipients. Additionally, incidence rates were found to be higher among rural residents and low-income groups compared to urban and high-income populations. The organizations emphasized the need for policies to address these health disparities and strengthen early screening and prevention measures.