South Korean doctors are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to improve the early detection of digestive diseases, according to reports from earlier this year. The technology is being applied to areas ranging from analyzing medical imaging to assisting in personalized treatment plans.
The integration of AI in healthcare is expanding rapidly, with applications in radiology, drug discovery, and patient care. According to a report from May 2025, physicians are leveraging AI to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of diagnoses. “AI provides consistent analytical capabilities, reducing diagnostic variations based on a doctor’s condition,” stated Jeong Jae-won, president of the Speedyeon Internal Medicine clinic, in a report by the Busan Ilbo. “It can contribute to maintaining and standardizing the overall quality of endoscopic examinations.”
Specifically, AI is proving valuable in identifying subtle anomalies during endoscopic procedures, which can be easily overlooked by the human eye. A joint study conducted by Seoul National University Hospital’s pathology professor Lee Seong-hak and the gastroenterology department of the University Hospital Augsburg in Germany, focused on early detection of cancers in the esophagus and stomach. Their research, published earlier this year, demonstrated AI’s ability to improve diagnostic accuracy and reliability in detecting Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and early gastric cancer.
The importance of early diagnosis in gastrointestinal cancers is underscored by survival rates. Although the five-year survival rate for advanced gastric cancer is less than 30%, it rises to over 90% for early-stage diagnoses. AI algorithms are being trained on vast datasets of endoscopic images to identify minute lesions that might otherwise be missed. Some studies have shown AI achieving over 98% sensitivity and specificity in predicting the depth of early cancer invasion and identifying ambiguous lesion boundaries, as reported by Medical Observer.
The use of AI-assisted endoscopy is not without its challenges. The technology requires substantial investment and ongoing refinement. However, the potential benefits in terms of improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs are driving its adoption. The Doctor Now AI platform, utilizing data from over one million consultations, is providing preliminary guidance to patients experiencing digestive issues, though it explicitly states its responses are for reference only and should not be considered medical advice.
As of February 17, 2026, the full clinical implications and long-term impact of AI in gastroenterology remain under investigation, with ongoing research focused on refining algorithms and expanding their application to a wider range of digestive diseases.
