South Korea Mammography Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends And Forecast (2025 - 2030)

South Korea Mammography Market Trends and Insights

Rising Incidence of Breast Cancer Among Women

Breast-cancer cases reached 33,335 in 2025, making the disease the most common malignancy among Korean women ^{[1]Kyu-Won Jung, “Prediction of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Korea, 2025,” Cancer Research and Treatment, cancerresearchtreatment.org}. Incidence rose 205.26% between 1990 and 2021, far outpacing regional averages. The 5-year relative survival rate climbed to 93.6% for the 2015-2019 cohort, underscoring the screening program’s clinical payoff. Women now delay childbirth and concentrate in urban settings, two established risk correlates. As the 50-59-year cohort expands, demand for mammography units rises, strengthening the South Korea mammography market.

Expansion of NCSP Reimbursement for Biennial Screening

NCSP now covers 90% of the cost for biennial mammography among women aged ≥ 40 years, eliminating out-of-pocket fees ^{[2]National Health Insurance Service, “Insurance Benefits,” nhis.or.kr} . Participation improved, recall rates fell from 17.2% in 2009 to 11.2% in 2020, and detection rates grew from 1.5 to 3.1 per 1,000 screens. Rural uptake rose fastest, narrowing historical access gaps. Policymakers are assessing ultrasound reimbursement for dense breasts, which could elevate screening throughput further.

Rapid Switch-Over to Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Since 2023 Reimbursement

Parity reimbursement for DBT began in 2023, enabling facilities to justify capital outlays of USD 400,000–600,000 per unit. DBT identifies 20–65% more invasive cancers than 2-D mammography, a critical advantage in a population where dense breast tissue exceeds 70% prevalence. Seoul leads adoption, but provincial hospitals follow as reimbursement de-risks investment.

AI-Powered CAD Improving Detection & Workflow

Lunit INSIGHT achieved area-under-curve performance of 0.91 in DBT datasets. In the AI-STREAM prospective study, radiologists aided by AI detected 140 cancers versus 123 without assistance, without increasing recall. AI also improves specificity to 93% in extremely dense breasts, tackling a key limitation of human readers. Hospitals integrate AI to manage 15-20% annual growth in screen volumes amid flat radiologist supply.

Blood-Based Tests Expanding Screening Funnel

MASTOCHECK measures three protein biomarkers and targets women with dense tissue where mammography is less sensitive. Pilot coverage inside urban clinics enlarges the screening funnel, creating supplementary demand for diagnostic mammography follow-up.

5G-Enabled Remote QA Networks for Rural Clinics

Samsung Medison and Lunit run QA networks that transmit DBT files via 5G, allowing urban radiologists to review rural images within minutes. Mobile connectivity cuts diagnostic reading time by 50%, reducing travel burdens on patients and opening new device-placement opportunities.

Radiation-Dose Concerns Among Women in Their 40s

Average scatter radiation is only 0.87 mGy at the sternum, yet fear persists. Educational campaigns and dose-reduction software seek to reassure patients, but anxiety suppresses screening intent, constraining near-term uptake.

Patient Discomfort Shifting Preference to Ultrasound/Blood Tests

Surveys show greater comfort with ultrasound than DBT. Clinics now bundle ultrasound and blood tests with mammography to retain patient loyalty, diluting pure mammography volume growth.

Segment Analysis

By Product Type: Digital Dominance Drives Premium Migration

The South Korea mammography market size for digital equipment led all product categories, holding 62.35% share in 2024. Analog units fade as hospitals modernize electronic medical record (EMR) systems that require digital images. Breast tomosynthesis revenue will grow at a 10.32% CAGR, supported by reimbursement parity and superior cancer-detection metrics. Although capital costs remain steep, workflow gains and lower recall rates shorten return-on-investment periods. Niche categories such as contrast-enhanced mammography gain clinical traction where specificity is paramount. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) now requires AI integration disclosure under the 2025 Digital Medical Products Act, further tilting demand toward smart digital platforms.

Legacy 2-D systems continue to serve lower-volume clinics, yet replacement cycles accelerate as DBT becomes the clinical baseline. Corporate procurement teams justify premium equipment by citing 20–65% higher invasive detection rates, especially relevant for the 70% dense-breast prevalence cohort. Digital breast tomosynthesis adoption aligns with national AI strategies, amplifying software subscriptions linked to each installed unit. Vendors now bundle cloud PACS storage and AI-CAD licences, transforming one-time hardware sales into recurring revenue streams.

By End User: Specialty Clinics Capture Growth Premium

Hospitals commanded 48.82% of South Korea mammography market share in 2024, anchored by comprehensive oncology pathways. Yet specialty breast clinics post the fastest 9.87% CAGR as patients seek streamlined experiences and faster report turnaround. Clinics often install DBT or contrast-enhanced units earlier than public hospitals, positioning themselves as technology leaders. Diagnostic imaging centers remain essential in mid-sized cities but feel margin pressure as hospitals expand outpatient wings.

Specialty providers differentiate by integrating AI-CAD, patient-comfort paddles, and rapid online scheduling. Hospitals counter by building dedicated breast-imaging suites that inherit multidisciplinary referral flows. Imaging centers invest in mobile DBT units to reach employer-sponsored screenings, yet their share erodes where clinics and hospitals overlap. Consequently, procurement strategies diverge: hospitals prioritize scalability, clinics emphasize premium experience, and imaging centers weigh cost versus service differentiation.

By Technology: 3-D Tomosynthesis Reshapes Clinical Standards

Two-dimensional systems retained 55.18% installed share in 2024, yet 3-D tomosynthesis is advancing at 10.19% CAGR. Evidence shows DBT cuts false positives and improves detection in dense breasts, underpinning rapid replacement of 2-D fleets. Additional modalities such as contrast-enhanced mammography and automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) fill diagnostic niches but remain smaller contributors.

AI-enabled DBT platforms like Lunit INSIGHT received FDA 510(k) in 2023, boosting domestic credibility and export opportunities. Vendors now deliver integrated packages pairing DBT hardware with AI subscriptions, PACS storage, and on-site training. MFDS approval pathways under the Digital Medical Products Act shorten time-to-market for such combined offerings. Hospitals prefer these turnkey platforms because they minimize vendor coordination and accelerate staff competency.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

Geography Analysis

Seoul Capital Area hosts the densest cluster of DBT installations, yet 19.8% of breast-cancer patients still travel from other provinces for initial treatment. Metropolitan secondary cities such as Busan, Daegu, and Incheon intensify upgrades to stem this medical tourism. Expanded 5G networks enable remote QA workflows, allowing provincial radiologists to consult Seoul experts without patient transfer.

Regional cancer-detection rates vary; metropolitan screening participation outruns rural areas, yet government subsidies for mobile DBT vans aim to narrow gaps. Provincial administrations offer tax incentives for clinics adopting AI-integrated devices. Diagnostics firms trial telerobotic ultrasound systems that connect local sonographers with off-site radiologists, further decentralizing care.

The South Korea mammography market increasingly emphasizes distributed service delivery. MFDS now streamlines approval for standardized DBT units to facilitate rural deployment. Combined with cloud-based AI and teleconsultation, this policy environment supports faster technology diffusion beyond Seoul.