Gibbeum Hospital chief introduces military doctors to his mesh-free hernia repair

Seoul-based Gibbeum Hospital President Kang Yoon-sik introduced his mesh-free hernia repair technique to military medical professionals at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea.

Kang discussed the procedure, known as the Kang Repair, on Oct. 1 at the 76th Annual 38th Parallel Healthcare Training Symposium. The technique uses a patient’s own tissue to reinforce the weakened area instead of synthetic mesh.

Kang said he developed the procedure in response to concerns about pain after hernia surgery. A 2001 Danish survey found that nearly three in 10 patients reported pain a year after surgery, while about one in 10 said the pain interfered with work or leisure, according to materials provided by the hospital.

The hospital said Kang uses an ultrasound to locate the hernia and performs the operation under local anesthesia through an incision about 3 to 4 centimeters long. The procedure typically takes about 25 minutes, and patients are generally discharged the same day, the hospital said.

Kang said patients can usually travel long distances after three or four days and resume exercise after about two weeks. A full return to strenuous work typically takes three to four weeks, depending on the patient.

Kang has performed more than 20,000 operations since 2012, according to the hospital.

By the end of 2025, about 600 patients from 57 countries had traveled to the hospital for the procedure, and five American doctors underwent the procedure themselves as patients, the hospital said.

The hospital reported that 17 of 3,484 patients who had the hernia repair and were followed for at least two years then underwent another hernia operation, a rate of 0.49%. The figure reflects the hospital’s follow-up data and may not include patients who later had surgery elsewhere, Kang said. The results have not been compared with mesh repairs in a randomized controlled trial.

Kang said the procedure may be an option for some patients who face risks from general anesthesia. Its suitability depends on each patient’s condition.