How Himedi Vets Clinics in Korea — Checkup Centers: CHAUM

CHAUM is located in Pie’n Polus, the most expensive officetel in Korea, also home to the chairman of SM Entertainment, who produced Girls’ Generation and Super Junior.

 

 

As income levels rise, we see a consistent shift in how patients approach healthcare.

• First, patients intervene early.
• Second, they value privacy.

CHAUM founded in 2010, was built around these needs. It is one of the earliest clinics in Korea structured specifically for preventive care, longevity, and privacy. Today, it remains a preferred option among high-income and senior patients in Korea. From our perspective, before newer entrants such as Bumin Prestige Life Care Center, CHAUM defined this category.

 

 

Chaum Life Center

 

 

Medical Quality & Structure

CHAUM is designed around managing and reversing sub-health, supported by integrated diagnostics and targeted interventions. Suboptimal health status (SHS) is increasingly recognized as a reversible transitional stage between optimal health and manifest disease. The system is organized into three components - premium checkups, specialty centers & outpatient care.

Premium Checkups - These form the foundation. Regular, comprehensive evaluations are used to detect early changes and prevent progression into disease.

Specialty Centers -  These focus on long-term health optimization, often described as anti-aging. The scope is broad, but the structure is consistent - each center targets a specific dimension of health:

• Anti-Aging
• Immune Health
• Hormone Treatment
• Cancer Prevention
• Chronic Fatigue
• Detox & Obesity
• Neuro-Pain
• Skin Shaping
• Food Therapy (Chronic Disease)
• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Spa

The goal is not treatment of disease, but extension of health span. When combined with the checkup system, this becomes measurable. Patients can track changes over time and use objective data to guide how they engage with these centers.

General Outpatient Care - This is where patients transition if sub-health progresses into a diagnosable condition. Unlike a typical primary care model, CHAUM provides:

• Direct access to specialists across nine departments
• Shared access to in-house diagnostic infrastructure (MRI, endoscopy, lab testing)

Departments include:

• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology & Metabolism
• Cardiology
• OB-GYN
• Rehabilitation Medicine (PM&R)
• Neurosurgery
• Dermatology
• Family Medicine
• Psychiatry

The key difference is coordination. Consultation, diagnostics, and follow-up are structured within a single system, reducing fragmentation common in traditional hospital settings. While CHAUM operates at a clinic level, physician quality is very high, and specialists have access to advanced diagnostic equipment comparable to major hospitals. This enables hospital-grade diagnostics within a more controlled environment. If a condition is identified, patients can be referred directly to top specialists within the CHA Group network.

 

 

Customer Experience

Privacy is the defining feature of CHAUM’s experience. The clinic operates private exam suites, referred to as “Hives.” Following a 2025 renovation, an updated version of the Hive was introduced. Capacity is intentionally limited:

• High-volume checkup centers: 300+ patients per day
• CHAUM Hive: approximately 30–40 patients per day

 

Chaum's Hives

 

 

Private Exam Suite: Hive

 

 

The operating model is different. Instead of patients moving between departments,
consultations, diagnostics, and equipment are brought to the patient. This reduces movement, minimizes exposure, and maintains continuity throughout the visit. The result is a more controlled environment, particularly relevant for patients who prioritize discretion.

CHAUM’s client base includes high-profile individuals, which has led to continuous investment in facilities, staffing, and service quality. Pricing is significantly higher than mass-market checkup centers. However, for patients who are not price-sensitive, it offers one of the most predictable and private experiences available.

 

 

Lee Ufan’s Correspondence is displayed on the 2nd floor of CHAUM. He is a master of Korean minimalism and Korean monochrome painting.

 

 

At the same time, patients naturally encounter works by globally recognized artists throughout the space, including:

• Karim Rashid
• Lee Ufan
• David Trubridge
• Yayoi Kusama
• Alessandro Mendini

I have personally met the chairman of the CHA Hospital Group twice. His perspective on art is reflected throughout the space—he personally sources many of the artworks and furniture from overseas. These works are not presented as highlights, but integrated into the environment, shaping how patients move through and experience the space.

 

 

On-the-Ground View

As of 2026, CHAUM is no longer the only provider offering private exam suite-based checkups. Bumin entered the market with a similar concept, marking the first real alternative in this category.

However, for the Himedi team, CHAUM remains the most reliable recommendation. In multiple high-stakes situations—including a UK-based billionaire visiting Korea, the First Lady of an African country, and one of Mongolia’s leading business families—CHAUM has consistently been our first choice. This confidence is based on experience.  Over more than 15 years of operation, CHAUM has built:

• A deeply embedded service mindset
• Extensive experience with VIP patients
• Strong integration with the CHA Hospital Group

These are reflected in how the system operates in practice. From our perspective, it remains one of the most stable and dependable options in this category.

 

 

Book Through Himedi

If you’re considering a health checkup in Korea and want guidance based on Himedi’s vetting framework, please contact Himedi.