Global & South Korea Laparoscopic Devices Market to 2031

The laparoscopic devices market in South Korea is highly sophisticated and continuously advancing, supported by a strong healthcare system, a focus on technological innovation, and an increasing preference for minimally invasive surgical (MIS) methods among both healthcare providers and patients. The country is a frontrunner in adopting robotic-assisted surgery, which enhances surgical precision and improves patient outcomes. There is also growing demand for single-incision laparoscopic surgeries, valued for reduced scarring and faster recovery times. Major global manufacturers such as Medtronic, Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson), Olympus, and Intuitive Surgical play key roles in the South Korean market.

Since bariatric surgery was covered under national health insurance in 2019, South Korea has experienced a significant rise in these procedures—from 543 in 2010 to 2,146 in 2019, reaching 2,283 by 2021. Sleeve gastrectomy remains the most common bariatric surgery, in line with global trends. Minimally invasive techniques have rapidly become the norm in general surgery. Analysis of national health insurance data from 2019 to 2023 for colorectal cancer (CRC) surgeries, a major part of general surgery, showed that out of 109,573 resections, 71.5% were laparoscopic and 11.3% robotic, meaning over 82% of CRC surgeries now utilize MIS approaches. While laparoscopic surgery rates for CRC stabilized above 70% in 2023, robotic surgery use has steadily grown, particularly for rectal cancer.

MIS adoption is notably high for colorectal surgeries, with an overall rate of 84.7% between 2019 and 2023—71.5% laparoscopic and 11.3% robotic. Specifically, robotic surgery for rectal cancer increased from 23.0% in 2019 to 28.2% in 2023, with an overall MIS rate for rectal cancer reaching 89.2% in 2023. A population-based study published in the “European Journal of Surgical Oncology” in 2025, examining CRC surgical resections from 2020 to 2022, reported that 90.6% were performed laparoscopically versus 9.4% open surgeries. This study also showed that laparoscopic surgery was associated with shorter hospital stays (11.27 days vs. 14.11 days) and lower readmission rates (3.2% vs. 5.4%) compared to open surgery.

In the field of gynecology, South Korea leads in the adoption of advanced minimally invasive methods. A retrospective study conducted at Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital in early 2025 compared single-port access laparoscopic surgery (SPALS) and single-site robotic surgery (SSRS) for benign gynecological conditions in 367 patients. Among hysterectomies, 44.16% were done via SPALS and 20.00% via SSRS, while for ovarian cystectomies, 15.23% used SPALS and 29.41% SSRS. The study noted shorter operation times for SPALS (57.1 minutes) compared to SSRS (118.1 minutes), with both approaches showing similar hospital stays of about four days. The expanding use of robotic surgery is also significant in gynecological oncology, where more complex cases are increasingly managed with robotic systems.