Knee Pain
Cartilage wear, meniscus tears and osteoarthritis, and what regenerative options realistically offer at each stage.
Knee pain assessment
Nucellin Clinic, Hannam-dong, Seoul
English-Speaking Orthopedic Specialist in Seoul
Non-surgical and regenerative care for joint, tendon and spine pain, evaluated directly by Dr. Hee-Jun Kim in Hannam-dong.
Board-certified orthopedic specialist , English consultation , Ultrasound and X-ray available on site
Usually within one business day, Monday to Friday (KST) , Send your MRI or X-ray for a first opinion
Treated in English, by the doctor
Your consultation is conducted directly in English by the physician who treats you, not relayed through a coordinator or interpreter.
Non-surgical and regenerative first
Stem cell therapy, Activated PRF and shockwave, offered where the evidence supports them and explained plainly where it does not.
Board-certified, one-to-one
A single-physician clinic in Hannam-dong. The doctor who reads your imaging is the doctor who performs your procedure.
Conditions we treat
Start with where it hurts
Most patients arrive with a symptom, not a diagnosis. Each page explains what is likely causing it, what the imaging can and cannot tell you, and which treatments are worth trying before surgery.
Back Pain
Why a disc bulge on MRI does not always explain your pain, and how treatment is chosen from examination rather than images alone.
Back pain assessment
Shoulder Pain
Rotator cuff and other shoulder problems, including recovery timelines patients are rarely given up front.
Shoulder pain assessmentUpper limb
Lower limb
Treatments
Regenerative options, described honestly
Regenerative medicine is often oversold. These pages set out what each treatment is, who it suits, what the evidence currently supports, and when we would tell you not to bother.
Stem Cell Therapy
Mesenchymal cell treatment for joint and cartilage damage, with the limits stated as clearly as the benefits.
Stem cell therapy guide
Activated PRF Therapy
An advanced platelet-fibrin preparation from your own blood, for tendon and early joint problems.
Activated PRF guide
Regenerative Physical Therapy
Structured, load-based rehabilitation that rebuilds capacity rather than just easing symptoms.
Physical therapy guide
Shockwave Therapy
Focused energy for chronic tendon pain that has not settled with rest and rehabilitation.
Shockwave therapy guide
Your doctor
Dr. Kim Hee-Jun
Orthopedic surgeon trained at Severance Hospital and founder of Nucellin Orthopedic Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul. He writes regularly on regenerative medicine, clinical decision-making and the limits of imaging.
Education & Career
- Graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine (Sinchon Campus)
- Orthopedic surgery residency, Yonsei University Sinchon Severance Hospital
- Clinical Professor of Joint Replacement, Yonsei University Sinchon Severance Hospital
- Chief Director, Nucellin Orthopedic Clinic, Seoul
- Consults and treats in English without an interpreter
Memberships
- Korean Knee Society, full member
- Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society, full member
- Korean Society of Spine Surgery, full member
- Korean Hip Society, full member
- International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST), full member
- Severance Arthroplasty Research Society, full member
- Korean Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, full member
- Korean Society for Stem Cell Therapy, full member
- Korean Society of Musculoskeletal Stem Cell Research, full member
- Advanced Regenerative Medicine Research Society, full member
Courses & Workshops
- DuPuySynthes Institute Cadaver Workshop (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Kyung Hee Shoulder Symposium (Refreshment In Sports & Shoulder Live Surgery)
- DuPuySynthes Hip Symposium
- Severance Arthroscopy Symposium: Knee and Ankle (ISAKOS & AAC Approved Course)
- Korean Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, All about Petit Live
- KCCS & KSKCS International K-Beauty Fresh Cadaver Workshop
Clinical Insight
Written by the doctor who treats you
A library of articles on regenerative medicine, what MRI does and does not show, how treatment decisions are actually made, and the science of pain. Every article carries the author's name.
Beyond the MRI
Your scan shows a tear. That may not be why you hurt.
Imaging findings are common in people with no pain at all. What that means for your treatment plan.
Read article
Regenerative Medicine
What stem cell therapy can and cannot do for a knee
Where the evidence is reasonable, where it is thin, and how to tell an honest offer from a marketing one.
Read article
Clinical Decision-Making
When surgery is the right answer
A non-surgical clinic explaining the cases it refers on, and why that line matters.
Read article
Coming from abroad
How to Plan Your Visit
Send your medical records and imaging before making travel arrangements. Dr. Kim reviews your case personally and advises whether an in-person evaluation in Seoul is likely to be worthwhile.
Send Your Records
Send available MRI or X-ray images, medical reports, previous treatment history and a brief description of your symptoms.
Preliminary Medical Review
Dr. Kim reviews whether your condition appears suitable for evaluation or treatment at Nucellin. A detailed diagnosis cannot be confirmed without consultation and examination.
Receive a Proposed Plan
We explain the likely evaluation process, possible treatment options, expected length of stay and an estimated cost.
Plan the Visit
Appointment scheduling, airport directions and where to stay near the clinic.
Patient stories
What patients say
Reviews are shown with their original source. Nothing here is edited by the clinic.
★★★★★
“Dr. Kim never pressured me at any point and took plenty of time to explain the treatment in detail until I felt fully informed and comfortable moving forward. The facilities and equipment were excellent, and the physical therapists and specialized staff members were professional, knowledgeable, and very responsive to questions.”
★★★★★
“Dr Kim took the time to consult with me to address my specific issues and proceeded with thorough examinations, including x-ray and ultrasound. After just two sessions with Dr Kim, my elbow pain level has decreased by over 90%!”
★★★★★
“Dr. Kim, and his highly accomplished physiotherapists, as well as other staff, were professional, experienced and highly effective in resolving debilitating pain I have experienced for many years. I have since returned for further treatments with the same satisfying results.”
Common questions
Before you get in touch
Do I need an interpreter?
No. Dr. Kim consults, examines and treats in English himself. You will not be relayed through a third person, and nothing is lost in translation between you and the person making the clinical decision.
Can you review my MRI before I travel to Korea?
Yes, and we would prefer to. Send your imaging and diagnosis through the consultation form or WhatsApp. You will get the doctor's own read usually within one business day, Monday to Friday, along with an honest answer about whether the trip is worth making.
How much does treatment cost?
Cost depends on which joint, which treatment and how many sessions, so a published price list would mislead more than it helps. You will receive a specific estimate with your treatment plan, before you commit to anything.
Do you take Korean national insurance or foreign insurance?
It depends on the treatment and your plan, and we would rather confirm the specifics than promise something a form later contradicts. Either way, you receive itemised English documentation for claims. The details live on the Insurance & Payment page.
Coverage depends on the service provided and your insurance plan. We explain which parts of the proposed treatment are covered and which are self-pay before treatment. Coverage and reimbursement are determined by your insurer.
Insurance and payment detailsHow long do I need to stay in Seoul?
Most regenerative procedures are day treatments. Depending on the plan, patients typically stay between three days and two weeks. Your treatment plan will state this before you book flights.
Getting here
Hannam-dong, central Seoul
The clinic is on Dokseodang-ro in Yongsan-gu, about 80 minutes from Incheon Airport on a single bus. No transfers, and the stop is in front of the building.
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From Incheon Airport, by limousine bus
Take Airport Limousine Bus 6010, which boards at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The fare is around ₩17,000 and a T-money card is accepted. The ride takes 80 to 100 minutes depending on traffic.
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Where to get off
Get off at the Hannam-dong (한남동) stop on the 6010 route. The stop is on Dokseodang-ro itself, directly in front of the building, so there is no walk with luggage at the end.
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At the building
The clinic is on the 4th floor of 71 Dokseodang-ro. Valet parking is available on site if you arrive by car or taxi.
71 Dokseodang-ro, 4F, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
서울 용산구 독서당로 71, 4층 (한남동)
Not sure whether it is worth the trip?
Send your scan. You will get a straight answer before you spend anything.