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Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, English-Speaking ENT Specialist in Gangnam, Seoul

Dr. Kim Yoo Suk (김유석) is the representative director of Gangnam Yonsei ENT Clinic, a board-certified otolaryngologist and former university professor who consults with patients in English.

Led by Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, MD · Board-certified otolaryngologist · Former professor, Yonsei & Ajou University · Consultations in English

Education and board certification

Dr. Kim earned his medical degree (MD) from Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul and completed PhD coursework at Yonsei University. He is a board-certified otolaryngologist , meaning he completed specialist training in otorhinolaryngology–head and neck surgery and passed the Korean specialty board examination.

Otolaryngology covers medical and surgical care of the ears, nose, sinuses, throat, voice box and related structures of the head and neck. Within that field, Dr. Kim went on to focus his academic work on rhinology, the study and treatment of nasal and sinus disease, including nasal airway surgery, sinus surgery and allergic and inflammatory conditions of the nose.

Academic appointments

Before opening Gangnam Yonsei ENT Clinic, Dr. Kim spent several years in university hospital practice, teaching and research:

• Clinical Fellow , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine (2009–2010)
• Clinical Assistant Professor , Yonsei University (2011–August 2012), subspecialty rhinology: septoplasty, rhinoplasty, rhinitis surgery and sinus surgery
• Assistant Professor , Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine (September 2012–February 2016), rhinology

In these roles he treated patients referred for nasal obstruction, chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal deformity and sleep-disordered breathing, while also teaching residents and medical students and taking part in clinical research. That academic background shapes how he explains diagnoses and options to patients today.

Overseas training

Dr. Kim completed two periods of advanced training abroad, both focused on endoscopic techniques:

• Endoscopic sinus surgery , Jikei University, Japan (2009)
• Endoscopic skull base surgery , University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), USA (2012)

Endoscopic sinus surgery uses a thin camera inserted through the nostrils to open blocked sinus drainage pathways without external incisions. Endoscopic skull base surgery extends these techniques to the area where the nasal cavity meets the base of the skull. This training underpins the endoscopic approach used for endoscopic sinus surgery and nasal polyp removal at the clinic.

Professional societies and textbook authorship

• Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery : member; board examination committee (2010–2012)
• Korean Rhinologic Society : member; public relations committee (2015–2016); facial plastic division secretary (2011–2015); clinical rhinology editorial secretary (2015–2016); tissue engineering and regenerative medicine division
• Korean Society of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery : member; co-author of the society's textbook
• Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology : member

Membership in both rhinology and allergy societies reflects the close link between the nose and allergic airway disease, which is relevant to conditions such as allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis .

Selected publications

Dr. Kim has co-authored peer-reviewed research in international journals. Selected papers include:

• American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology (2017): hypoxia and epithelial permeability
• BMJ Open (2015): symptom-based diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis
• American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy (2015): body mass index and histamine skin reactivity
• Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology (2015): 5-year outcomes of obstructive sleep apnea surgery
• Acta Oto-Laryngologica (2015): hyaluronic acid vocal fold augmentation
• Journal of Craniofacial Surgery (2015): heart rate variability in obstructive sleep apnea
• American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy (2015): fascia lata in augmentation rhinoplasty
• Annals of Biomedical Engineering (2015): 3D printing in a rhinoplasty model
• Annals of Plastic Surgery (2015): revision augmentation rhinoplasty

The topics span the nose, sinuses, allergy, sleep apnea and the voice.

Care philosophy

The clinic's philosophy is "principled care, patient first." In practice, that means recommending only the treatment or surgery a patient actually needs. Medical management is tried first where appropriate, and surgery is discussed when symptoms persist or the examination shows a structural problem that medication cannot correct.

For surgical patients, Dr. Kim performs functional nasal operations under local anesthesia with same-day discharge for most people; details are on the nasal and sinus surgery center page. The clinic does not publish success rates or guarantees, because results depend on each person's anatomy, condition and recovery.

English consultations for every ENT problem

Dr. Kim consults in English, so international patients can discuss symptoms, test results and options directly with him. Although rhinology is his subspecialty, he treats the full range of ear, nose and throat conditions, from middle ear infections and sudden hearing loss to tonsillitis , hoarseness and BPPV vertigo .

If you are new to Korean healthcare, read the English-speaking patient guide for what to bring and how payment works, or check the location and hours before you visit.

Frequently asked questions

See an English-speaking ENT in Gangnam, Seoul

Patients from around the world visit Dr. Kim Yoo Suk for nose, sinus, ear and throat problems. Message us on WhatsApp or walk in — 2 minutes from Gangnam-gu Office Station, Exit 3-1.