Intuitive Surgical doubles its growth in 5 years

Revenue and profit rise together… improving profitability

Service revenue grows alongside system adoption

Expansion with da Vinci 5 and Ion systems

Intuitive Surgical Korea, a leader in robotic surgery, continues to show strong growth.

Since introducing the da Vinci surgical system in Korea in 2005, the company has achieved steady revenue growth, doubling its business over the past five years.

Last year marked its 20th anniversary in Korea, surpassing 370,000 cumulative procedures and ushering in an era of “mainstream adoption of robotic surgery.”

Doubles growth over 5 years… accelerating expansion

The revenue trend of Intuitive Surgical Korea (hereinafter Intuitive Korea) over the past five years can be summarized as a ‘high-growth trajectory.’

Revenue grew from KRW 159.7 billion in 2021 to KRW 167.4 billion in 2022, then to KRW 212.9 billion in 2023, marking the first time the company surpassed KRW 200 billion in revenue.

Since then, the company posted KRW 252.9 billion in revenue in 2024 and set a new record with KRW 342.4 billion in 2025.

According to Intuitive, cumulative robotic surgeries in Korea surpassed 370,000 over the past 20 years through 2025, with procedures now performed at a rate of roughly “one every eight minutes” in Korea.

In particular, the rapid increase in both clinical adoption and demand for equipment, to the extent that the number of single-port robotic surgeries ranks first in the world, served as the core foundation for this growth in performance.

A detailed breakdown of revenue reveals a virtuous cycle between products and services.

As of 2025, product sales, including da Vinci systems and surgical instruments, reached KRW 280.9 billion, accounting for 82% of total revenue. Service revenue, including system maintenance, totaled KRW 43.2 billion, while other revenue came in at KRW 18.2 billion.

Compared to 2021, product sales more than doubled from KRW 130 billion, and service revenue also expanded by nearly KRW 20 billion from KRW 23.3 billion.

In other words, as more robotic surgical systems are newly installed in hospitals (product revenue), the associated maintenance contracts (service revenue) accumulate, forming a stable structure that serves as a stable cash cow.

Profitability also strengthens… operating profit surpasses KRW 10 billion

Profitability indicators, including operating profit and net income, have also shown a positive trajectory.

According to audit reports, operating profit grew steadily from KRW 4.7 billion in 2021 to  ▲KRW 5.0 billion in 2022, ▲KRW 6.4 billion in 2023, and  ▲KRW 7.6 billion in 2024. In 2025, it reached KRW 10.3 billion, surpassing the KRW 10 billion mark.

Net income followed a similar upward trend.

In 2021, the company recorded a net loss of KRW 63 million due to non-operating expenses and taxes, but rebounded to a net profit of KRW 3.4 billion in 2022.

This was followed by net profits of ▲KRW 4.7 billion in 2023 and ▲KRW 5.3 billion in 2024, rising further to KRW 7.2 billion in 2025 alongside significant top-line expansion.

However, as revenue surged, selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses also increased substantially. SG&A rose from KRW 18 billion in 2021 to KRW 37.1 billion in 2025, more than doubling.

That said, considering that the company’s workforce expanded from 139 employees as of March 2024 to around 200 by March 2026, the increase is more likely attributable to investment expansion rather than inefficiency.

Expansion of da Vinci 5 and Ion… platform expansion

This growth coincides with the rollout of the company’s next-generation systems. The launch of da Vinci 5 in Korea in October 2024, making it the second country globally after the US, has been cited as a key growth driver.

In addition, the company expanded into thoracic surgery and pulmonology diagnostics with the domestic launch of the robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system ‘Ion’ in August 2025.

Product photo of the image-guided robot-assisted bronchoscopy system, Ion

Ion uses a 3.5 mm ultra-thin robotic catheter to precisely access and diagnose lesions in peripheral lung regions that are otherwise difficult to reach. It is considered a potential game-changer in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

In particular, the fact that Intuitive has designated Korea as a key starting point is another factor fueling expectations for continued sales growth.

The company is currently establishing direct ties with the domestic robotic surgery research ecosystem, including donating the robotic surgery research platform ‘dVRK’ to the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) through the Intuitive Foundation (third such donation following Seoul National University and Yonsei University).

Catherine Mohr, President of the Intuitive Foundation, who recently visited Korea, stated, “Korea contributes to the advancement of global surgical technology through its solid clinical foundation and active research in robotic-assisted surgery. During this visit, I confirmed the future potential of Korean healthcare.”

Yong-bum Choi, CEO of Intuitive Surgical Korea, added, “This visit highlights Korea’s global standing in AI and robotic healthcare. We will strive to build an environment where more patients can benefit from treatment through ongoing education and collaboration.”