Diabetes & Obesity Metabolic Surgery Center, Led by Director Kim Jong-min
Diabetes & Obesity Metabolic Surgery: The Hospital's Core Specialty
The Min Hospital's gastrectomy-based metabolic surgery (bariatric surgery) reduces the size of the stomach to treat severe obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic disease by limiting food intake and altering the hormonal signals that regulate appetite and blood sugar.[1,2] The center is directed personally by Representative Director Kim Jong-min, a board-certified endocrine and metabolic surgeon who oversees every patient's diagnosis, testing, surgery, and long-term follow-up — including nutrition and lifestyle management after the operation.
Why Surgery for Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes has traditionally been managed through diet, exercise, and medication alone. Metabolic surgery has emerged as a treatment option for patients whose diabetes and obesity-related metabolic disease do not respond adequately to medical management. The International Diabetes Federation designated metabolic surgery as an official treatment option for type 2 diabetes in 2009, and in 2022 the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the American Diabetes Association jointly recommended that surgery be actively considered for patients with a BMI of 27.5 kg/m² or higher who have poorly controlled blood sugar — a notably lower threshold than the BMI 35 kg/m² cutoff historically used for weight-loss surgery.
Why This Matters More for Korean and East Asian Patients
Korea has a comparatively low rate of severe obesity yet a high and rising rate of type 2 diabetes. Research cited by the hospital's specialists points to two contributing factors: Korean patients have on average 70–80% fewer pancreatic beta cells (the insulin-producing cells) than Western populations, and diabetes in Korean patients is more closely linked to abdominal fat accumulation than to overall body weight. Because East Asian populations often develop type 2 diabetes at lower BMI levels than Western populations, several published studies have specifically examined metabolic surgery outcomes in Asian patients with a BMI under 30 kg/m², finding meaningful diabetes remission along with significant reductions in HbA1c and fasting blood glucose in this lower-BMI group.[3]
Insurance Eligibility Criteria in Korea
- BMI 35 kg/m² or higher (eligible regardless of comorbidities)
- BMI 30 kg/m² or higher, with an obesity-related complication (hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)
- BMI 27.5 kg/m² or higher with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (selective insurance coverage)
Note: Only type 2 diabetes can be treated with metabolic surgery. Type 1 diabetes, caused by autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells, requires lifelong insulin and is not a candidate for this surgery.
Five Surgical Techniques, Matched to Each Patient
The Min Hospital is one of a limited number of institutions in Korea offering all five major sleeve-based metabolic surgery techniques, selected according to each patient's pancreatic function, BMI, and duration of diabetes:
1. Sleeve Gastrectomy. The outer portion of the stomach is removed vertically, leaving a narrow, banana-shaped stomach with a volume of approximately 100cc. This restricts food intake and reduces secretion of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite, from the portion of the stomach that is removed.[1] The procedure preserves the ability to perform endoscopy after surgery, causes minimal nutritional imbalance, and typically takes only 30–40 minutes laparoscopically, making it well suited to more straightforward cases of severe obesity.
2. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. The stomach is reduced to roughly 30cc and connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing the duodenum and upper jejunum. This is considered a global standard treatment with strong weight-loss and comorbidity-improvement results, particularly effective for diabetic patients with a lower BMI, though it requires long-term acid-suppressing medication, prohibits smoking, and does not allow post-operative stomach endoscopy.
3. Duodenal Switch. Performed after sleeve gastrectomy by connecting the duodenum to the jejunum, combining benefits of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. It avoids dumping syndrome and has a lower ulcer rate while preserving stomach function for future endoscopy, but is technically complex and requires an experienced surgeon.
4. Proximal Jejunal Bypass. Performed after sleeve gastrectomy by bypassing only the upper portion of the small intestine without bypassing the duodenum. This reduces the risk of nutritional deficiency compared with more extensive bypass methods while preserving the ability to perform stomach endoscopy, though its diabetes-improvement effect may be somewhat less pronounced than duodenal switch or Roux-en-Y bypass.
5. Single Anastomosis Sleeve Ileal (SASI) Bypass — First Introduced in Korea by The Min Hospital. In April 2025, The Min Hospital announced it had introduced the single anastomosis sleeve ileal bypass (SASI) for diabetic patients — the first institution in Korea to do so, according to Director Kim Jong-min. The procedure connects the sleeve-shaped stomach to the ileum after sleeve gastrectomy while preserving the natural pathway to the duodenum, so food travels through two routes simultaneously. This design is intended to overcome a key limitation of the duodenal switch: because the duodenum remains endoscopically accessible, physicians can still treat gallstones or other biliary conditions that arise after surgery, while maintaining comparable weight-loss and diabetes-improvement outcomes and reducing the risk of nutrient deficiency. The hospital reported successfully performing this procedure on a 49-year-old male patient with difficult-to-control diabetes, hypertension, and a history of gallstones who required a technique compatible with future biliary endoscopy; his post-operative recovery was reported as favorable.
Published international clinical data on SASI bypass support its efficacy: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis of 38 studies covering over 2,500 patients found pooled excess weight loss of 93.2% at 24 months, alongside high remission rates for obesity-related conditions including type 2 diabetes (92.7%), hypertension (79.1%), and dyslipidemia (82.6%).[4]
How Metabolic Surgery Works: The Incretin Mechanism
When food is consumed, the pancreas and small intestine release hormones called incretins, which stimulate insulin secretion and suppress glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar). In patients with type 2 diabetes, chronic overconsumption relative to pancreatic capacity disrupts this incretin balance: the upper small intestine's incretin (GIP) begins working against its normal function by promoting glucagon release, while insulin's ability to convert blood sugar into usable energy is impaired, causing glucose to accumulate in the blood. Metabolic surgery reduces stomach size to ease the pancreatic workload and, in bypass variants, reroutes food away from the upper small intestine directly to the lower small intestine — restoring a more favorable incretin balance.
Safety and Hospital-Reported Outcomes
The Min Hospital reports that its metabolic surgery complication rate runs approximately 1–2%, compared with a reported 2–3% complication rate for a comparable partial gastrectomy performed for stomach cancer, and states that 87% of diabetic patients were able to discontinue diabetes medication within three months of surgery. (These are hospital-reported figures rather than independently published peer-reviewed data; ask MTK to help confirm current outcome statistics directly with the hospital before treatment.) Independent published data support metabolic surgery's overall safety and efficacy: a landmark randomized controlled trial found bariatric-metabolic surgery produced significantly better long-term glycemic control than medical treatment alone in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes,[5] and a meta-analysis of randomized trials found metabolic surgery achieved meaningfully higher rates of diabetes remission than medical/lifestyle treatment even in patients with a BMI below 35 kg/m².[2]
Other Surgical Specialties at The Min Hospital
Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery
The hospital reports a track record of complication-free outcomes in high-difficulty thyroid and parathyroid cases. Surgical volume is a well-documented factor in thyroid surgery safety: published research shows that higher-volume surgeons and centers are associated with lower rates of complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism compared with lower-volume settings, even for more extensive procedures such as total thyroidectomy.[6]
Gallbladder Surgery
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (minimally invasive gallbladder removal) is one of the hospital's frequently performed general surgery procedures. A large pooled analysis of over 500,000 patients across 151 studies found overall morbidity of 1.6–5.3%, a bile duct injury rate of 0.32–0.52%, and mortality of 0.08–0.14% for modern laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with safety continuing to improve over time.[7]
Colorectal & Anorectal Surgery
The hospital's leadership includes board positions with the Korean Society of Coloproctology and the World Society of Coloproctology, reflecting a concentration in colorectal and anorectal conditions including hemorrhoids and anal fistula, alongside general colorectal and gastrointestinal cancer surgery.
Health Screening Center
The Min Hospital operates a university-hospital-level designated health screening center for Gangbuk-gu, performing more than 20,000 precision screenings annually.
Meet the Medical Team
The Min Hospital is led by three representative directors, each overseeing a core area of the hospital's practice.
Kim Jong-min, Representative Director — General Surgery (Endocrine & Metabolic Surgery). Personally directs the Diabetes & Obesity Metabolic Surgery Center, overseeing diagnosis, testing, surgery, and post-operative management for every patient in the program, and introduced the SASI bypass technique to Korea in 2025. Also moderates an online patient community for those who have undergone metabolic surgery for diabetes and obesity.
Song Ok-pyung, Representative Director — General Surgery, MD/PhD. Former hospital director at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital. Board member of the Korean Surgical Society and the Korean Society of Coloproctology; member of the World Society of Coloproctology; certified clinical oncology specialist; lifetime member of the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, Korean Cancer Association, and Korean Breast Cancer Society; member of the Korean Society of Traumatology.
Kim Kyung-rae, Representative Director — Internal Medicine (Endocrinology). Board-certified endocrinology specialist overseeing the hospital's internal medicine practice, including thyroid disease, diabetes and other endocrine disorders, and general internal medicine such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and allergic conditions.
Seong Jong-je, Surgeon. Thyroid disease, diabetes/obesity metabolic disease, hernia, anorectal disease, gallbladder disease, appendicitis, and endoscopy with polypectomy.
Kim Hyuk-mun, Surgeon. Thyroid disease, breast disease (including cancer), varicose veins, gallbladder disease, and appendicitis.
Jeon Hyung-jin, Surgeon. Gallbladder disease, appendicitis, endoscopy with polypectomy, general surgery, and health screening.
Quick Facts
- Location: 187 Dobong-ro, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mia-dong) — approx. 141m from Mia Station Exit 5 (Line 4)
- Founded: 2008 — first surgery-specialty hospital in the Seoul/Gyeonggi region
- Metabolic surgery volume: 1,500+ cumulative cases; certified bariatric/metabolic surgery institution
- Hours: 09:00–18:00 weekdays, 09:00–13:00 Saturday (no lunch break Saturday), weekday lunch break 13:00–14:00 (confirm with MTK before booking)
- Contact: 02-982-3114
How MTK's Booking Process Works
- Browse & Match: Review this guide and MTK's hospital directory to confirm The Min Hospital fits your medical need and schedule.
- Free Consultation: Submit a booking inquiry through MTK, sharing your BMI, diabetes history, and any lab results or imaging. Your interpreter, experienced in medical terminology, will coordinate your consultation with the hospital.
- Confirm & Book: Once the hospital reviews your case and proposes a surgical plan, you confirm the appointment date. A booking deposit secures your slot; the remaining balance is paid directly at the hospital.
- Treatment & Follow-Up: Attend your appointment with dedicated language support included. Post-treatment follow-up coordination is handled through MTK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible for metabolic surgery?
In Korea, eligibility generally follows BMI thresholds: 35 kg/m² or higher regardless of comorbidities; 30 kg/m² or higher with an obesity-related complication such as diabetes or hypertension; or 27.5 kg/m² or higher with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Only type 2 diabetes can be treated surgically — type 1 diabetes cannot. Share your BMI and diabetes history through MTK for an initial assessment.
What makes SASI bypass different from other bypass surgeries?
SASI preserves the natural pathway to the duodenum after sleeve gastrectomy, so the duodenum remains accessible by endoscopy after surgery — useful if gallstones or other biliary issues develop later. The Min Hospital was the first hospital in Korea to introduce this technique, reporting comparable diabetes and weight-loss outcomes to duodenal switch with a lower risk of nutrient deficiency. Published international data report diabetes remission rates around 88–93% at 12–24 months following SASI bypass.
How is the right surgical technique chosen for me?
Director Kim Jong-min and the surgical team select from five available techniques based on your pancreatic function, BMI, duration of diabetes, and other individual health factors, rather than applying one standard procedure to every patient.
Is metabolic surgery safe?
Independent clinical research supports metabolic surgery as an effective, evidence-based treatment for type 2 diabetes, including in patients below traditional bariatric-surgery BMI thresholds. As with any surgery, individual risk depends on your health profile; discuss your specific case and any hospital-reported outcome data directly with the hospital through MTK before deciding.
How do I get a cost estimate before traveling?
Costs vary depending on your diagnosis, chosen procedure, and insurance eligibility. Contact MTK concierge with your BMI, diabetes history, and any existing test results for a written estimate from the hospital before your visit — free of charge.
Medical References
Source policy: References 1–7 support general medical statements in this guide, drawn independently from peer-reviewed literature. Hospital-specific descriptions, case-volume figures, and hospital-reported outcome statistics are drawn from the hospital's own published materials and press coverage (cited inline) and are presented as the hospital's reported data, not independent clinical evidence.
- The Min Hospital. Diabetes & Obesity Metabolic Surgery Center: Surgical Methods. minhospital.co.kr/metabolic/surgery
- Rubino F, et al. Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery to Treat Type 2 Diabetes in Patients With a BMI <35 kg/m². Diabetes Care. 2016. PubMed 27222550
- Metabolic surgery in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and body mass index less than 30 kg/m²: A systematic review. 2024. PMC11538796
- Single anastomosis sleeve ileal (SASI) bypass outcomes and complications: single-arm meta-analysis. Surgical Endoscopy. 2025. PubMed 41326728
- Mingrone G, et al. Bariatric-metabolic surgery versus conventional medical treatment in obese patients with type 2 diabetes: 5-year follow-up of an open-label, single-centre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2015. PubMed 26007124
- Total thyroidectomy is associated with increased risk of complications for low- and high-volume surgeons. Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2014. PubMed 24943236
- Pucher PH, et al. Outcome trends and safety measures after 30 years of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a systematic review and pooled data analysis. Surgical Endoscopy. 2018. PMC5897463
- 김현기. 민병원, 당뇨환자 '위소매-회장 우회술' 도입. 의학신문. 2025. bosa.co.kr
- Medical Korea. Registration System for Medical Institutions serving foreign patients in Korea. medicalkorea.or.kr
Medical Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary, and all treatment decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified physician after a thorough evaluation of your specific condition. MTK facilitates bookings and coordination but does not provide medical treatment directly.