Cheonan Good Morning Urology Clinic Opens a New Chapter in Stone Treatment with Dyne Medical’s URUS
From accurate diagnosis to complex surgery, advanced equipment and skilled medical personnel work in seamless harmony
Director Dong-wook Kim: “We will continue investing to provide local patients with high-quality, university hospital-level care.”
Published August 4, 2026, 05:50
[Medical Newspaper · Daily Bosa = In-gyu Oh] Kidney stones, which can cause excruciating pain, were once considered a highly complex treatment area largely confined to university hospitals. However, advances in medical technology, combined with bold investments by regional medical institutions willing to bear the financial burden and operational risks, are significantly improving patient access to advanced care.
Cheonan Good Morning Urology Clinic, regarded as a leading institution in the Chungcheong region, has recently introduced URUS, Dyne Medical Group’s single-use flexible ureteroscope, further strengthening its position at the forefront of regional stone treatment.
Medical Newspaper met with Director Dong-wook Kim to discuss the clinic’s process of establishing infrastructure for complex endoscopic procedures, the reasons behind its decision to adopt a Korean-made medical device, and its vision as a regional healthcare provider.
Medical Newspaper database photo
Successful kidney stone treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. To support precise clinical decision-making, Cheonan Good Morning Urology Clinic has established a comprehensive diagnostic infrastructure that includes four ultrasound systems, one CT scanner, three radiographic imaging systems, and two C-arm systems.
Its treatment capabilities following diagnosis are also comparable to those of a university hospital. The clinic operates three lithotripters and has equipped its three operating rooms with four endoscopic visualization systems to support complex endoscopic procedures.
It also maintains a total of eight rigid and flexible endoscopes, along with holmium laser systems, enabling patients to undergo safe endoscopic stone fragmentation procedures.
Director Kim explained, “Skilled medical personnel are essential to professionally operate such an extensive diagnostic and treatment system. At present, four board-certified urologists and 38 radiologic technologists and nursing staff members work closely together to complete and effectively operate the system.”
Korean-Made URUS Demonstrates Its Strength in Demanding Clinical Settings
In clinical practice, particularly in procedures that are highly complex or directly related to patient safety, healthcare professionals are often cautious about adopting Korean-made devices. This is largely due to the longstanding reliance on imported equipment and the generally conservative nature of the medical community.
Single-use flexible ureteroscope URUS
Photo courtesy of Dyne Medical Group
Nevertheless, after comparing and using endoscopic devices from multiple manufacturers, Director Kim praised Dyne Medical Group’s flexible ureteroscope URUS for delivering the strongest overall performance in complex procedures.
URUS features a working channel positioned at the 6 o’clock direction, allowing the laser fiber to appear at the lower center of the endoscopic image. This configuration enables surgeons to keep the stone centered on the screen while maintaining a balanced view of both sides. It is also designed to support more precise targeting of stones located in the lower pole calyx.
Director Kim said, “Just as Korean consumer electronics gained global market share by addressing the shortcomings of products from more advanced countries, I sincerely appreciate the developers who created an excellent medical device by overcoming the inconveniences and limitations of existing imported equipment.”
He added, “I hope that continued upgrades will allow the product to make an even greater contribution to the advancement of Korea’s healthcare industry.”
Continued Investment to Overcome the Limitations Faced by a Regional Clinic
The clinic also faced considerable challenges in building its current stone surgery system, including the adoption of Dyne Medical’s URUS. Between KRW 1.5 billion and KRW 2 billion was invested in equipment and infrastructure alone.
The initial decision involved difficult internal discussions. Beyond concerns about recovering the substantial investment, the clinic had to consider how it would respond to surgical complications, the chronic shortage of urology residents, and whether it could continue recruiting qualified medical personnel despite being located outside the Seoul metropolitan area.
Director Kim said, “We decided to take on the challenge for the advancement of regional healthcare, even if it meant accepting all the risks and potential financial losses.”
He continued, “We have overcome numerous difficulties and the system is gradually becoming established, but honestly, we are still carrying the weight of those challenges every day.”
Becoming a Regional Hub for Stone Surgery: “We Will Protect the Health of Chungcheongnam-do Residents”
Director Dong-wook Kim focuses on patient care.
Photo courtesy of Cheonan Good Morning Urology Clinic
The development of medical technology has been remarkable. When Director Kim was a resident 25 years ago, much of the equipment used today did not even exist. Until just over a decade ago, completely treating kidney stones through endoscopic surgery was considered nearly impossible.
Early endoscopic systems were also extremely expensive, making them accessible almost exclusively to university hospitals. Advanced stone surgery remained a field that was difficult for local clinics to enter.
However, a small number of determined private practitioners have overcome the financial pressure and taken the initiative, leading to the emergence of regional stone surgery centers across the country.
Concluding the interview, Director Kim said, “When we consider the reality that patients often endure pain while waiting a long time to undergo surgery at a university hospital, I firmly believe that our clinic’s essential role in the region is to provide the same level of medical care more conveniently, more quickly, and at a lower cost.”
Cheonan Good Morning Urology Clinic Opens a New Chapter in Stone Treatment with Dyne Medical’s URUS
From accurate diagnosis to complex surgery, advanced equipment and skilled medical personnel work in seamless harmony
Director Dong-wook Kim: “We will continue investing to provide local patients with high-quality, university hospital-level care.”
Published August 4, 2026, 05:50
[Medical Newspaper · Daily Bosa = In-gyu Oh] Kidney stones, which can cause excruciating pain, were once considered a highly complex treatment area largely confined to university hospitals. However, advances in medical technology, combined with bold investments by regional medical institutions willing to bear the financial burden and operational risks, are significantly improving patient access to advanced care.
Cheonan Good Morning Urology Clinic, regarded as a leading institution in the Chungcheong region, has recently introduced URUS, Dyne Medical Group’s single-use flexible ureteroscope, further strengthening its position at the forefront of regional stone treatment.
Medical Newspaper met with Director Dong-wook Kim to discuss the clinic’s process of establishing infrastructure for complex endoscopic procedures, the reasons behind its decision to adopt a Korean-made medical device, and its vision as a regional healthcare provider.
Medical Newspaper database photo
Successful kidney stone treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. To support precise clinical decision-making, Cheonan Good Morning Urology Clinic has established a comprehensive diagnostic infrastructure that includes four ultrasound systems, one CT scanner, three radiographic imaging systems, and two C-arm systems.
Its treatment capabilities following diagnosis are also comparable to those of a university hospital. The clinic operates three lithotripters and has equipped its three operating rooms with four endoscopic visualization systems to support complex endoscopic procedures.
It also maintains a total of eight rigid and flexible endoscopes, along with holmium laser systems, enabling patients to undergo safe endoscopic stone fragmentation procedures.
Director Kim explained, “Skilled medical personnel are essential to professionally operate such an extensive diagnostic and treatment system. At present, four board-certified urologists and 38 radiologic technologists and nursing staff members work closely together to complete and effectively operate the system.”
Korean-Made URUS Demonstrates Its Strength in Demanding Clinical Settings
In clinical practice, particularly in procedures that are highly complex or directly related to patient safety, healthcare professionals are often cautious about adopting Korean-made devices. This is largely due to the longstanding reliance on imported equipment and the generally conservative nature of the medical community.
Single-use flexible ureteroscope URUS
Photo courtesy of Dyne Medical Group
Nevertheless, after comparing and using endoscopic devices from multiple manufacturers, Director Kim praised Dyne Medical Group’s flexible ureteroscope URUS for delivering the strongest overall performance in complex procedures.
URUS features a working channel positioned at the 6 o’clock direction, allowing the laser fiber to appear at the lower center of the endoscopic image. This configuration enables surgeons to keep the stone centered on the screen while maintaining a balanced view of both sides. It is also designed to support more precise targeting of stones located in the lower pole calyx.
Director Kim said, “Just as Korean consumer electronics gained global market share by addressing the shortcomings of products from more advanced countries, I sincerely appreciate the developers who created an excellent medical device by overcoming the inconveniences and limitations of existing imported equipment.”
He added, “I hope that continued upgrades will allow the product to make an even greater contribution to the advancement of Korea’s healthcare industry.”
Continued Investment to Overcome the Limitations Faced by a Regional Clinic
The clinic also faced considerable challenges in building its current stone surgery system, including the adoption of Dyne Medical’s URUS. Between KRW 1.5 billion and KRW 2 billion was invested in equipment and infrastructure alone.
The initial decision involved difficult internal discussions. Beyond concerns about recovering the substantial investment, the clinic had to consider how it would respond to surgical complications, the chronic shortage of urology residents, and whether it could continue recruiting qualified medical personnel despite being located outside the Seoul metropolitan area.
Director Kim said, “We decided to take on the challenge for the advancement of regional healthcare, even if it meant accepting all the risks and potential financial losses.”
He continued, “We have overcome numerous difficulties and the system is gradually becoming established, but honestly, we are still carrying the weight of those challenges every day.”
Becoming a Regional Hub for Stone Surgery: “We Will Protect the Health of Chungcheongnam-do Residents”
Director Dong-wook Kim focuses on patient care.
Photo courtesy of Cheonan Good Morning Urology Clinic
The development of medical technology has been remarkable. When Director Kim was a resident 25 years ago, much of the equipment used today did not even exist. Until just over a decade ago, completely treating kidney stones through endoscopic surgery was considered nearly impossible.
Early endoscopic systems were also extremely expensive, making them accessible almost exclusively to university hospitals. Advanced stone surgery remained a field that was difficult for local clinics to enter.
However, a small number of determined private practitioners have overcome the financial pressure and taken the initiative, leading to the emergence of regional stone surgery centers across the country.
Concluding the interview, Director Kim said, “When we consider the reality that patients often endure pain while waiting a long time to undergo surgery at a university hospital, I firmly believe that our clinic’s essential role in the region is to provide the same level of medical care more conveniently, more quickly, and at a lower cost.”