Seoul St. Mary's Hospital is pushing to build Asia's first next-generation proton center...Phase 1 Invests 250 Billion, First Operations at the End of 2029
Nov 25, 2025
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With this contract, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital will operate the largest proton center in Korea by introducing the latest equipment among existing proton devices in Asia. In particular, considering the start of operation of proton therapy devices currently operating in Korea (National Cancer Center 2007 and Samsung Medical Center 2015), the equipment introduced by Seoul St. Mary's Hospital is a next-generation system with a technological gap of more than 10 years.
IBA's Proteus Plus model, introduced by Seoul St. Mary's Hospital this time, is evaluated as a next-generation device that is advanced compared to the existing first-generation proton therapy device in Korea. One of its advantages, Adaptive Proton Therapy, is a technology that can immediately treat deformed tumors during the treatment period without an additional waiting period, and will be implemented at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital for the first time in the world.
Another technology has been introduced only to the proton system of very few medical institutions worldwide, and it is the first Dynamic ARC (Dynamic Arc) introduced by Seoul St. Mary's Hospital in Asia. This technology, which continuously irradiates (照射) a proton beam at the optimal treatment angle using a 360-degree rotating gantry (rotational irradiation device) whose angle is precisely adjusted in 0.1-degree units, improves treatment effectiveness and shortens treatment time by minimizing damage to normal tissue.
The proton center to be built in the complex of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital in Banpo-dong will be built in two stages. First, the first stage will invest more than 250 billion won with the goal of completing the introduction and installation of proton therapy devices by the end of 2029 and having a total of 11,450 pyeong (7 floors underground, 1 floor above ground, 37,850 square meters of total floor area).
The hospital plans to invest additional financial resources to promote internally planned second-stage construction at a time when proton therapy is stably operated. When the second phase of the project is completed, the center of gravity of solid cancer treatment will be concentrated in the newly established proton center, and the true 'Seoul St. Mary's Cancer Hospital' is expected to be completed.
It also made it clear that it would prepare in advance for the rapidly increasing demand for patients with three treatment gantry compositions, the largest in Korea. The plan is to maximize the utilization rate through continuous treatment like water because the entrance room-treatment preparation-treatment proceeds at the same time in each gantry. In particular, since such an operating system is difficult to establish without confidence in the solid demand behind it, public evaluation is that it shows the 'confidence' of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.
In fact, it is known that the hospital is internally preparing a plan to address the nation's demand for particle treatment at the same time as it opens, based on its excellent accessibility near the Seoul Express Bus Terminal. Based on the large-scale development plan for the terminal site recently announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, it is also preparing a plan to establish a new master plan for the entire complex.
Lee Ji-yeol, director of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, said, "The introduction of the world's best next-generation proton equipment and the construction of the center beyond Korea will be the last puzzle to complete the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital complex. In addition to the blood hospital that already boasts a world-class reputation, cancer hospitals will once again be a new competitive edge in providing world-class treatment."
Meanwhile, IBA, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is a global leader in particle accelerator technology and has the highest share globally. As of 2024, it occupies the majority of proton therapy devices sold worldwide, and about 60 medical institutions around the world, including advanced medical countries such as the United States and Europe, operate IBA's proton therapy devices.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
