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[Inside K-Healthcare Engine] ⑤ Taking K-Surgical Robots to the Global Stage, “meerecompany”

Ho Kun Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Surgical Robot Division at meerecompany, emphasized, “It is unfair for patients to be denied access to advanced medical care simply because of limited financial resources. Our goal is to ensure that patients who have never experienced surgical robots can benefit from them at a reasonable cost.”

“South Korea has taken a leap toward becoming a powerhouse in medical robotics by successfully commercializing the nation’s first—and the world’s second—laparoscopic surgical robot. We aim to make surgical robot technology accessible to patients who have never experienced it before, offering benefits at a reasonable cost while accelerating our entry into the global market.”

Ho Kun Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Surgical Robot Division at meerecompany, shared this vision in a recent interview at the company’s Seoul office in Munjeong-dong, Seoul.

Robotic surgery involves making small incisions in the patient’s body to insert a surgical camera and robotic arms, which are then controlled by the surgeon. It is widely applied across fields such as urology, general surgery, and gynecology. Compared to conventional surgery, robotic surgery provides clearer imaging and greater dexterity through robotic arms, enabling more precise and safer procedures. Minimally invasive incisions reduce pain, bleeding, and infection risks, while also shortening recovery times. Another advantage is that it leaves little to no scars, offering cosmetic benefits as well.

According to global market research, the worldwide surgical robot market is projected to reach USD 22.9 billion (approximately KRW 31 trillion) by 2029. Although surgical robots were first introduced in Korea in 2005, the market has been dominated by foreign-made products. By country, the share of surgeries performed using surgical robots is highest in the United States at 19%, followed by Japan (5%), Europe (4%), Oceania (3%), and South Korea and Canada (1.5%).

meerecompany has risen to the challenge by developing the nation’s first laparoscopic surgical robot using homegrown technology. In a market dominated by foreign products, the company intends to showcase South Korea’s technological capabilities and steadily expand its market share worldwide.

▲ Ho Kun Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Surgical Robot Division at meerecompany, poses for a photo ahead of an interview with etoday at the company’s Seoul office in Songpa-gu on the 13th.

A 10-Year Challenge in Surgical Robot Development: The Birth of South Korea’s Revo-i

Originally a producer of display and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, meerecompnay entered surgical robot development in search of sustainable growth and to overcome the cyclical volatility of its existing industries. The company began research and development in 2007 and, a decade later in 2017, received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for South Korea’s first laparoscopic surgical robot, Revo-i.

Executive Vice President Ho Kun Lee explained, “There were three main reasons we embarked on surgical robot development. First, it aligned with our founder’s vision of pursuing a meaningful business that could contribute to humanity while generating profit. Second, it offered an opportunity to offset the cyclical nature of the display and semiconductor industries. And third, this was a high-entry-barrier industry where few companies could easily participate. Around that time, foreign-made surgical robots were just being introduced into Korea.”

Revo-i is composed of three parts: the Master Console, Operation Cart (OP Cart), and Vision Cart. The Master Console allows the surgeon to sit and control the arms in real time, with hand movements directly transmitted to the OP Cart. The OP Cart performs surgery on the patient with four robotic arms (one endoscopic camera and three surgical instruments) based on the surgeon’s commands. The Vision Cart processes images and delivers them to the Master Console and a touchscreen monitor, enabling surgical staff to monitor the procedure in real time.

However, the development process was far from easy. At the time, no company in Korea had independently developed a surgical robot, and acquiring the core technologies to replicate human hand movements with precision proved to be the greatest challenge.

Lee noted, “The essence of surgical robot development lies in replicating the natural structure of human joints as closely as possible, while integrating precise control technology that ensures patient safety. Our focus is to deliver medical solutions that reduce patient pain, shorten hospital stays, and help patients return to daily life as quickly as possible.”

He added, “Few companies in South Korea were developing surgical robots back then, so we had to solve everything in-house. Given that these are life-critical medical devices, the approval process was extremely rigorous—clinical data and documentation had to be complete in every detail, otherwise approval would not be granted. For a small to mid-sized company, the cost of clinical trials was a major burden, but we were able to overcome it by reinvesting profits from our display and semiconductor equipment businesses into research, development, and regulatory approval.”

▲ Ho Kun Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Surgical Robot Division at meerecompany, explained, “The strengths of Revo-i are its cost competitiveness, user-centered design, and rapid maintenance.”

Differentiated by Price, Convenience, and Rapid Maintenance—Positive Feedback from the Field

The strongest competitive advantages of Revo-i are its price, user-centered design, and quick maintenance. Executive Vice President Ho Kun Lee explained, “With foreign companies monopolizing the market, prices became excessively high. We lowered the cost to improve patient accessibility and developed equipment that is easier for medical staff to use by incorporating feedback from the field. Since our R&D center and development office are based in Seoul, we can respond quickly to customer needs. For overseas maintenance, our local partner companies handle issues directly, and when necessary, we have a system in place to dispatch engineers from South Korea within 72 hours.”

Currently, Revo-i is in use at five hospitals in South Korea, including Severance Hospital in Sinchon and Bundang Jaesaeng Hospital, with a cumulative total of approximately 3,000 procedures performed. Bundang Seoul National University Hospital also has a training system installed. Hospitals benefit from higher profitability, as they can perform procedures at lower costs compared to foreign equipment, while patients enjoy reduced financial burdens.

“Medical professionals who have actually used the device said there is little difference compared to existing foreign products, and in fact, they found the controls simpler and more intuitive,” Lee noted. “Because the acquisition, maintenance, and consumable costs are all more affordable, hospitals can set lower procedure fees, which has generated highly positive feedback from the field.”

Although robotic surgery is currently categorized as a non-reimbursable item under national health insurance, coverage is available depending on individual private health insurance or cancer insurance plans. At present, Revo-i is one of only two surgical robots eligible for such coverage.

▲ Ho Kun Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the Surgical Robot Division at meerecompany, during an interview with etoday.

Targeting Emerging Markets with Exports, Delivering Medical Robot Solutions Worldwide

Building on its domestic track record, meerecompany has exported its surgical robots to five countries—Uzbekistan, Russia, Mongolia, Paraguay, and Morocco—while also preparing to expand into Vietnam, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian markets.

Lee explained, “Developed countries tend to use expensive U.S.-made products, but in emerging markets, even with a strong need for surgical robots, high costs make adoption difficult. With both technological strength and cost competitiveness, Revo-i is targeting these emerging markets first.”

He added, “The most important aspect of a surgical robot is the ability to replicate human hand movements as naturally and delicately as possible. Revo-i is designed with a strong focus on that core functionality. Ultimately, our goal is to provide robotic medical solutions that help patients around the world recover quickly and return to their daily lives. We are channeling the company’s full capabilities into making Revo-i a technologically advanced and complete system.”

Beyond business expansion, meerecompany continues to uphold its founder’s philosophy: “to provide better medical care to more patients at a reasonable cost.”

“It’s unfair for patients to be denied access to advanced medical care simply because of financial limitations,” Lee emphasized. “We want to ensure that even patients who have never experienced surgical robots can receive these benefits at an affordable cost. By reinvesting business profits into R&D, we will continue to realize our founder’s vision of creating meaningful value through business.”

Korean article: https://www.etoday.co.kr/news/view/2498234