Korea's first fetal cardiac centre opens at Asan Medical

Congenital heart defects affect about eight to 10 in every 1,000 newborns.

South Korea’s Asan Medical Centre opened the country’s first standalone fetal cardiac centre dedicated to treating heart disease in the womb, congenital heart defects affecting about eight to 10 in every 1,000 newborns.

In a press release, Asan Medical said the centre, located on the sixth floor of the New Building, will add dedicated cardiac care sessions and more echocardiography equipment.

It also plans to introduce fetal cardiac catheterisation, a complex fetal intervention.

The hospital said demand for cardiac screening has grown fast, as detailed fetal echocardiograms rose to a record 1,531 in 2025 from 298 in 2004 and about one in three detailed fetal ultrasounds at the centre last year was a cardiac exam.