Certification
Accreditation and recognition
Only what an institution has actually issued is listed here, and self-description is kept separate from official recognition.
In 2023 Seoul Stem Cell Lab was recognised by Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT as a dedicated stem cell research department, meaning it is a registered corporate research organisation that was reviewed against standards for research staff and facilities. THE LINE Plastic Surgery held JCI accreditation from 2015 to 2018, holds ISO 9001, and is designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as an institution for attracting international patients.
Dedicated stem cell research department
Recognition as a dedicated research department is granted after the ministry reviews whether an organisation's research staff, facilities and research activity actually exist. It is a registered status obtained through review, not a marketing label.
Year of recognition
2023, when Seoul Stem Cell Lab was recognised as a dedicated stem cell research department.
What is reviewed
The qualifications and number of dedicated research staff, the existence of research space and equipment, and the content of the research activity.
What it means
A clinic saying it has a lab and a government ministry registering that lab as a research organisation are two different levels of claim.
Accreditation held by the hospital
Before cells are handled, safe surgical and anaesthetic systems have to be in place.
JCI accreditation (2015 to 2018)
Joint Commission International accreditation verifies patient safety, infection control and standards for anaesthesia and surgery through on-site survey. THE LINE held it from 2015 to 2018.
ISO 9001
Quality management system certification for aesthetic medical services, covering clinical procedures and record management.
Designated for international patients
Granted by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare to institutions with the systems and malpractice cover required to treat foreign patients.
Emergency referral partners
Referral arrangements are in place with Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul St Mary's Hospital and Kyung Hee University Medical Center.
What we do not hold
We list the absences too. Blurring this distinction makes it harder for a patient to judge.
| Item | Status | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated stem cell research department | Held (2023) | A research organisation recognised after review of research staff and facilities. |
| Advanced regenerative medicine institution | Not held | This designation applies to institutions conducting clinical research involving cell culture and expansion. Seoul Stem Cell Lab performs only autologous treatment without culturing, so the designation does not apply. |
| Cell culture and expansion | Not performed | Isolated and purified autologous cells are used the same day without culturing. |
| Donor or cord blood cells | Not used | Only autologous cells obtained from the patient's own fat are used. |
Note. Designation as an advanced regenerative medicine institution exists to allow clinical research with cultured cells, while recognition as a dedicated research department confirms that a research organisation genuinely exists. The two systems serve different purposes and neither substitutes for the other. It is worth checking this distinction when comparing clinics.
Checking accreditation yourself
Some claims can be verified with the issuing body and some cannot. Here is where each one can be checked.
Research department recognition
Administered by the Ministry of Science and ICT, with recognised organisations held in registration records. Check the year and the name of the recognised organisation.
International certification
JCI and ISO 9001 have their own certifying bodies and the certificates carry a validity period. Where a certification has expired, stating the years is the accurate way to present it.
Government designation
Designation for treating international patients is a registration scheme, and status can be checked through the responsible ministry's public information.
Frequently asked questions
If a clinic is not an advanced regenerative medicine institution, can it still perform stem cell treatment?
Yes. That designation is the route required for institutions intending to culture and expand cells for clinical research. Isolating autologous cells and using them the same day without culturing is a different category.
Clinics differ in how they work, so it is worth asking in consultation whether cells are cultured and where they come from.
Does research department recognition guarantee treatment results?
No. It recognises the staff and facilities of a research organisation. It does not mean the government has endorsed the effect of any particular treatment.
Recognition answers the question of the conditions cells are handled under. Results depend on the individual.
How should I compare accreditation between clinics in Gangnam?
Look past the name of the certification to the issuing body, the year, and what was reviewed. A claim with no designation number or date is hard to verify.
The JCI accreditation ran to 2018. What is the position now?
It was held from 2015 to 2018. Stating that the period has ended is the accurate way to present it, which is why the years are given. The surgical and anaesthetic protocols established during accreditation remain in use.
Are international patients treated under the same conditions?
THE LINE Plastic Surgery is designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as an institution for attracting international patients. The clinical procedure is identical, and interpretation support is confirmed at the time of enquiry.