Gangnam Central Eye Clinic
Gangnam, Seoul · Registered for international patients

Eye Surgery in Seoul: Gangnam Central Eye Clinic

What is Gangnam Central Eye Clinic, and can I be treated here as a foreign patient?

Gangnam Central Eye Clinic is an ophthalmology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, registered with the Korean government to treat international patients (registration no. M-2021-01-08-6311), with Korean, English and Chinese listed as its consultation languages. It performs vision correction (LASIK, LASEK, ICL), presbyopia and cataract surgery, and treats glaucoma, retinal disease and dry eye. Whether any procedure is possible for you is decided by examination, not in advance — so the first step is always a measurement of your own eyes.

What kind of eye clinic is this?

The clinic opened in April 2021 on the 9th floor of Shindo Venture Tower, directly outside Seolleung Station in Gangnam, Seoul. Every physician on staff is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Care is organised into four areas rather than a long menu of procedure names.

  • LASIK & LASEK CentreSmart Nova LASIK, Smart SMILE LASIK, One-Point LASEK, Safe ATOS LASIK, 1DAY implantable lens surgery (ICL), Dream Lens (orthokeratology), and revision surgery after a previous procedure.
  • Presbyopia & Cataract CentreAll-laser cataract surgery, revision after previous presbyopia or cataract surgery, Signature presbyopic LASIK, and consultation on premium intraocular lenses.
  • Retina & Glaucoma CentreExamination and treatment of retinal and glaucoma conditions, including intravitreal injection therapy.
  • Dry Eye CentreClean-n-Therapy, the clinic's dry eye programme, including IPL-based treatment.

Medical institution filing no.: 2021-3220033-00048. Registration as a medical institution for foreign patients: M-2021-01-08-6311.

LASIK, LASEK, SMILE, ICL — what actually differs?

The four methods differ in one basic way: how the eye is accessed, and whether corneal tissue is removed at all. The table below describes the methods in general terms. Which of them applies to you — and whether any of them does — is decided by your examination results, and the clinic does not quote recovery times or outcomes in advance.

 LASIKLASEKSMILEICL (implantable lens)
How the cornea is accessedA flap is created in the cornea and lifted.No flap; the corneal epithelium is removed with the laser and the tissue beneath it is treated.No flap; the work is done through a small incision at the edge of the cornea.No corneal tissue is removed; a lens is placed inside the eye.
Corneal tissue removedYes.Yes.Yes.No.
Corneal tissue after surgeryCorneal tissue that has been removed is not put back.The cornea is not cut for correction, and the lens can be removed if that becomes necessary.
What the examination weighsCorneal thickness and the prescription.Corneal thickness together with how you use your eyes day to day.Corneal thickness and corneal shape.Anterior chamber depth and corneal endothelial cell count. Considered where the cornea is too thin for a method that removes tissue.
What the examination checksCorneal thickness, corneal shape (topography and tomography), refraction, tear film and retinal condition.Additionally: anterior chamber depth and corneal endothelial cell count, which decide whether a lens can be placed safely.
Followed up after surgeryDry eye, night vision including glare, and regression of myopia are among the things checked at the follow-up visits. Every procedure carries the possibility of side effects, these differ between individuals, and what applies to your eye is explained at the consultation.

How do I know whether I am a candidate?

You do not know in advance, and neither does the clinic. The points below are the ones an ophthalmologist checks before deciding — they are general medical criteria, not a promise that you will qualify. If the examination shows a procedure is not suitable for your eye, the clinic will say so and will not recommend it.

  • Whether the prescription is still changingWhile the prescription is still changing, the cornea is not reshaped to lock a prescription in place. Whether it has settled is checked by measuring again at intervals.
  • Corneal thickness and shapeThickness, the front and back shape of the cornea and its elasticity are measured, and the room left for a later revision procedure is taken into account.
  • Anterior chamber and endothelial cellsFor an implantable lens, the distance between the natural lens and the back of the cornea and the corneal endothelial cell count decide whether a lens can be placed. Endothelial cells do not grow back once lost.
  • Tear filmTear production and how quickly the tear film breaks up are measured. Where dryness is marked, it is treated first and the eye is measured again afterwards.
  • Pupil sizePupil size is measured in daylight and in the dark, because it bears on glare at night.
  • Retina and optic nerveThe fundus and the optic nerve are examined. If something else is found there, that is dealt with first.

What examinations are done, and on what equipment?

The examination is the part of the visit that decides everything else, so it comes first. What is measured: the prescription including the astigmatic axis, corneal thickness and the front and back shape of the cornea, tear production and tear film break-up, pupil size in daylight and in the dark, anterior chamber depth and corneal endothelial cell count, and the fundus and optic nerve.

The equipment in use at the clinic: SCHWIND ATOS NOVA, SCHWIND AMARIS RED 1050, SIRIUS, PENTACAM, OCT, LENSAR, CENTURION, IPL Aqua cell and the ZEISS Lumera surgical microscope.

Lenses used for implantable lens surgery: STAAR Aqua ICL and ECHO ICL. Which one is used, if either, follows from the measured space inside the eye and the prescription range.

Intraocular lenses used in cataract and presbyopia surgery: Johnson & Johnson Odyssey as the main lens, with Synergy, PureSee, Eyhance, PanOptix (Pro) and Vivity also in use. The lens is chosen at consultation.

Who are the clinic's ophthalmologists?

Two board-certified ophthalmologists practise at the clinic, and each patient's own doctor carries out that patient's examination, surgery and follow-up. Dr. Gye Hyeon Pung is the director of the clinic, licensed in Korea since 2010 and a graduate of Chung-Ang University College of Medicine; his practice covers vision correction, presbyopia and cataract surgery, retinal injection therapy, upper eyelid surgery, pterygium and dry eye. The second ophthalmologist practises in vision correction, glaucoma, presbyopia and cataract surgery, and dry eye. The operating theatre is monitored by CCTV.

  • Professional societiesFull member of the Korean Ophthalmological Society, the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the Korean Contact Lens Study Society.
  • Published researchSix papers, listed below in full, in Korean and international ophthalmology journals.

1. Comparison of Intraocular Pressure Measurements Obtained by Rebound, Noncontact, and Goldmann Applanation Tonometry in Children. American Journal of Ophthalmology 160:937–943, 2015.

2. Comparison of Intravitreal Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab Treatment for CNV. Medical & Surgical Ophthalmology Research 2(3), 2018.

3. Influence of Myopia on Size of Optic Nerve Head and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measured by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. Korean Journal of Ophthalmology 30:335–343, 2017.

4. Research on the Quality of Life of Glaucoma Patients. Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2014;55(12):1868–77.

5. A Case of Retained Descemet's Membrane after Penetrating Keratoplasty. Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2013;54(5):813–7.

6. Clinical Course of Submacular Hemorrhage Due to Various Chorioretinal Diseases According to Pneumatic Displacement. Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2012;53(11):1630–6.

What manufacturer documents are held, and who is each one addressed to?

Patients travelling from abroad often ask what can actually be verified. The documents below are held in original form and are quoted by their exact titles, with the name each one is made out to. Some are issued to the surgeon and some to the clinic, and the two are not the same thing: a certificate of training is described as training, and an award to the clinic is described as an award to the clinic.

  • SCHWIND ATOS Premium Refractive Surgery CourseCertificate of successful completion, made out to Dr. Gye Hyeon Pung. October 2022, Kleinostheim, Germany.
  • LENSAR 3D Femtosecond LaserCertificate of Training in femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery, made out to Dr. Gye Hyeon Pung. April 2021. It is a training certificate, not a surgeon qualification.
  • STAAR EVO ICLAward of Appreciation, made out to Gangnam Central Eye Clinic, for its contribution to three million EVO ICL procedures worldwide. July 2025. It is an award to the clinic, not a surgeon qualification.
  • Johnson & Johnson — TECNIS Synergy plaqueA plaque made out to Gangnam Central Eye Clinic. The plaque itself carries no date.
  • Johnson & Johnson InstituteCertificate of Attendance for the Meet the Masters Symposium, made out to Pung, Gye Hyeon. June 2026.

What does the clinic's registration for foreign patients actually mean?

In Korea, a clinic that treats patients from abroad is registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare for that purpose. Gangnam Central Eye Clinic holds registration no. M-2021-01-08-6311, with Korean, English and Chinese listed as its consultation languages on that registration.

Please arrange your consultation in advance by telephone or email rather than arriving unannounced.

What are the risks, and what will not be promised?

Every surgical procedure described on this page carries the possibility of side effects, and these differ from person to person. Dry eye, night vision including glare, and regression of myopia are among the things checked at the follow-up visits after vision correction. With an implantable lens the size and the angle at which the lens sits matter: a lens that is too small may touch the natural lens, which can bring on a cataract; a lens that is too large may impede the flow of fluid inside the eye, which can bring on glaucoma; and inflammation of the iris is possible if infection control after the iris is opened is neglected. Corneal endothelial cells do not grow back once lost, which is why they are counted before surgery.

Results differ from person to person. No particular level of vision is promised here.

Nothing on this page is a diagnosis or a recommendation for your eye. A consultation and examination at the clinic come first, and the surgeon will tell you directly if a procedure is not advisable in your case.

FAQ

Questions patients from abroad ask us

Can I be treated here if I am not Korean?
Yes. The clinic is registered as a medical institution for foreign patients, registration no. M-2021-01-08-6311, and its consultation languages on that registration are Korean, English and Chinese. Please contact the clinic by telephone or email before your visit.
What eye procedures does the clinic perform?
Vision correction — Smart Nova LASIK, Smart SMILE LASIK, One-Point LASEK, Safe ATOS LASIK, 1DAY implantable lens surgery, Dream Lens and revision surgery; presbyopia and cataract surgery including all-laser cataract surgery and Signature presbyopic LASIK; retinal and glaucoma care; and a dry eye programme.
What is the difference between LASIK, LASEK, SMILE and ICL?
LASIK creates a corneal flap; LASEK makes no flap and removes the corneal epithelium with the laser to treat the tissue beneath it; SMILE makes no flap and works through a small incision at the edge of the cornea; and ICL removes no corneal tissue at all but places a lens inside the eye. The comparison table above sets out what the examination checks for each. Which one applies to you is decided after measurement.
How do I know which procedure I am a candidate for?
Only from your own examination results. Corneal thickness and shape, the depth of the anterior chamber, corneal endothelial cell count, the tear film and the condition of the retina all affect what is possible. If the examination shows a procedure is unsuitable, it will not be recommended to you.
Which examinations will I have before surgery?
Corneal topography and tomography, corneal thickness, refraction, anterior chamber depth, corneal endothelial cell count where a lens procedure is being considered, tear film assessment, pupil size in daylight and in the dark, and examination of the fundus and optic nerve. SIRIUS, PENTACAM and OCT are among the devices in use.
Can the examination and 1DAY implantable lens surgery be done on the same day?
For 1DAY implantable lens surgery, only where the examination clearly shows the eye to be suitable and the lens needed is not one that has to be made to order. If the anterior chamber is shallow or the picture is unclear, another date is arranged instead. This answer is about 1DAY implantable lens surgery; for other procedures the dates are arranged after the examination.
How long before my examination should I stop wearing contact lenses?
Soft lenses should be left out for at least five days, and hard lenses for at least seven days. If that period is not observed, the cornea is still deformed by the lens and the measurements will not be accurate.
Which implantable lenses does the clinic use?
STAAR Aqua ICL and ECHO ICL. Which of the two is used follows from the space measured inside the eye and the prescription range.
Which intraocular lenses are used for cataract surgery?
Johnson & Johnson Odyssey is the main lens in use, with Synergy, PureSee, Eyhance, PanOptix (Pro) and Vivity also available. The choice is made at consultation, based on your eye and how you use your vision.
What surgical equipment does the clinic have?
SCHWIND ATOS NOVA, SCHWIND AMARIS RED 1050, SIRIUS, PENTACAM, OCT, LENSAR, CENTURION, IPL Aqua cell, and the ZEISS Lumera surgical microscope.
Who will examine and operate on me?
Two board-certified ophthalmologists practise at the clinic, and each patient's own doctor carries out that patient's examination, surgery and follow-up. The director is Dr. Gye Hyeon Pung, licensed in Korea since 2010 and a graduate of Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, a full member of the Korean Ophthalmological Society, the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the Korean Contact Lens Study Society, with six papers listed in full above. The operating theatre is monitored by CCTV.
What are the risks and side effects?
Every procedure carries the possibility of side effects, and these differ from person to person. After vision correction the follow-up visits check dry eye, night vision including glare, and regression of myopia. With an implantable lens, a lens that is too small may touch the natural lens, which can bring on a cataract; a lens that is too large may impede the flow of fluid inside the eye, which can bring on glaucoma; and inflammation of the iris is possible if infection control after the iris is opened is neglected. No outcome is promised.
How much will it cost?
Fees for international patients are given individually after consultation, because what is needed differs by eye. Please ask by telephone or email before you travel so that you are not surprised on arrival.
When is the clinic open?
Monday and Friday 09:30–18:30; Tuesday and Thursday 09:30–19:30; Saturday 09:30–15:30 with no lunch break. On weekdays the clinic closes for lunch from 13:30 to 14:30. Times are Korea Standard Time (UTC+9).
Are you closed on Wednesdays?
Yes. The clinic is closed on Wednesdays, Sundays and Korean public holidays. On some public holidays it does open, announced in advance on the clinic's website notice board and its KakaoTalk channel — so check before travelling on a holiday.
How do I get to the clinic from the subway?
The clinic is directly outside Seolleung Station. Exit 5 has stairs; Exit 6 has an escalator. The clinic is on the 9th floor of Shindo Venture Tower.
Is there parking if I come by car?
Parking in Shindo Venture Tower is free. The building uses a mechanical parking system, so SUVs cannot be parked there. On the day of surgery the clinic arranges SUV parking in the neighbouring building.
How do I contact the clinic from outside Korea?
By telephone on +82-2-555-1369, or by email at gnceyecenter@naver.com. The clinic can be reached by telephone during opening hours, which are Korea Standard Time (UTC+9).
How long has the clinic been open?
The clinic opened in April 2021.
What are the clinic's registration numbers?
The medical institution filing number is 2021-3220033-00048, and the registration as a medical institution for foreign patients is M-2021-01-08-6311.
Does the clinic treat conditions other than refractive error?
Yes — cataract and presbyopia surgery, glaucoma, retinal disease including injection therapy, and dry eye, which has its own treatment programme at the clinic.

How do I make an appointment?

Contact the clinic before you travel, by telephone or email. The clinic can be reached by telephone during opening hours.

Telephone
+82-2-555-1369
Email
gnceyecenter@naver.com
Monday, Friday
09:30–18:30 (lunch 13:30–14:30)
Tuesday, Thursday
09:30–19:30 (lunch 13:30–14:30)
Saturday
09:30–15:30, no lunch break
Closed
Wednesday, Sunday and Korean public holidays. Opening on a public holiday is announced in advance on the clinic's website notice board and KakaoTalk channel.
Time zone
Korea Standard Time, UTC+9

How do I get to the clinic?

The clinic is on the 9th floor of Shindo Venture Tower, immediately outside Seolleung Station in Gangnam.

Address
9F, Shindo Venture Tower, 333 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06150, South Korea
Nearest station
Seolleung Station. Exit 5 — stairs. Exit 6 — escalator.
Parking
Free in the building. The mechanical parking system cannot take SUVs; on the day of surgery SUV parking is arranged in the neighbouring building.

Ask before you book a flight

Contact the clinic by telephone or email before you travel. Nothing is decided before your eyes are measured.

Email gnceyecenter@naver.com Call +82-2-555-1369

This page was written by Gangnam Central Eye Clinic. Medical institution filing no. 2021-3220033-00048.