SAERON STORY
Dr. Joo’s Philosophy:
Why an ER doctor with 15 Years of Experience
Chose Stem Cell and Regenerative Therapy
Hello,
I'm Dr. Joo Yong-min,
Director of Saeron Clinic.
You're probably reading this because you're considering anti-aging treatments, or you're
looking for answers to knee arthritis, hair loss, or chronic autoimmune conditions.
And you might be wondering: Who is this doctor? What's his story? What's his approach?
Here, I share the medical philosophy I've carried throughout my journey — from a 15-year ER
doctor to a stem cell therapy doctor.
This philosophy represents both my core beliefs and my promise to every patient who walks
through Saeron Clinic's doors.
ONE. I don’t believe in limits.
People have doubted me three times in my life.
Once, when I kept trying to become a doctor even after failing the college entrance exam twice.
Once when I wrote a research paper on using hemophilia treatments for severe trauma bleeding
—something no one had tried before.
And once when I left the ER to pursue stem cell therapy.
"That's impossible. You'll never make it" was always the default response.
But here I am today, proving doubters wrong ever since I was a teenager with bad acne.
So here is my promise to you:
When it comes to my patients' health, nothing is impossible.
TWO. Why an ER doctor chose stem cell therapy.
Finding hope in endings
More than 100 patients came through the ER doors every single day.
If there's anywhere in this world closest to death, it's there. Every day was like a battlefield.
Patients coming way too late for treatment. Patients in excruciating pain from accidents.
Patients who had tried to take their own lives.
But here's what frustrated me the most: patients would come in with unbearable pain,
but their test results would come back normal. And modern medicine would have nothing to offer.
I felt helpless. It made me question everything.
Why do we only treat people when something catastrophic happens?
That's when I discovered stem cell therapy.
‘Preventive’ medicine that works before symptoms appear.
‘Regenerative treatment’ using your body's own stem cells to repair cellular damage.
Stem cell therapy—could this be the next evolution of medicine? I wondered.
Here was treatment that tackled disease from an entirely different angle
—not through surgery or immune suppression, but by generating new, healthy cells.
I became obsessed. I spent countless hours researching stem cell therapy,
attending conferences and seminars across the globe.
I studied protocols, refined techniques, and applied everything I learned.
The result?
I could finally help patients who had exhausted all conventional options.
-
A psoriasis patient with hallopeau syndrome who showed no
improvement despite years of steroid treatment at multiple
dermatology clinics, but experienced significant healing after bone
marrow stem cell (BMAC) therapy. -
A patient in his early 30s with severe hair loss who was considering
hair transplant surgery, but achieved hair restoration through our
combined approach of stem cell therapy, follicular injections,
and oral medication.
A 64-year-old insurance consultant
who chose regenerative treatment over surgery
Healthy Knee
Patient’s Knee (Stage3 Osteoarthritis)
For most of her life, she stayed active and enjoyed meeting people every day
through her work as an insurance consultant.
A few years ago, she started having knee pain.
At first it was minor, but it gradually got worse, especially when going up or down stairs.
Eventually, it began to affect her daily life and work.
She visited several clinics and tried different medications and injections,
but nothing gave lasting relief. Tests showed she had stage 3 knee osteoarthritis.
Some doctors recommended surgery,
but she decided to try regenerative treatment instead.
Her first round of treatment with bone marrow stem cells brought noticeable improvement.
She then received follow-up treatments using fat-derived stem cells (SVF) and
platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which helped keep her symptoms stable.
Ultrasound-guided knee injection
Knee injection
The pain isn’t completely gone, but I can now walk comfortably.
I hope more people know these treatments exist.
You don’t have to live in pain.
With consistent care and exercise,
she’s kept her symptoms under control, without turning to surgery.
Her story shows how non-surgical regenerative treatments can help people
find lasting relief and improve their quality of life.
THREE.
Why patients from Seoul, Japan, and China
travel all the way to Busan to find us
What is it about Saeron—a clinic tucked away in a quiet neighborhood of Busan—that draws in international patients?
Is it because we’re officially approved by Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare
as an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution?
Is it because we’re one of the few clinics offering all three types of stem cell therapy
—blood, adipose, and bone marrow?
All true. But that’s not what I want to highlight.
stem cell therapy — grounded in
experience, not promises.
I’m a stem cell specialist with 15 years of experience in emergency medicine.
In the ER, a single symptom could reveal a patient’s entire condition.
That same approach guides how I treat patients today.
Many clinics claim to offer “personalized stem cell therapy.”
But for me, treatment itself is never the goal.
I don’t simply focus on where symptoms show up — I look at the whole picture.
When appropriate, I take into account factors like skin condition, rehabilitation progress,
and underlying medical issues to design the most realistic and helpful treatment plan for each patient.
Take knee pain, for example. That doesn’t automatically call for stem cell injections.
Stem cell therapy is just one option among many, and I only recommend it when truly necessary.
We focus on real recovery—not just procedures.
From X-rays and ultrasound diagnostics to pain management before and after treatment,
rehabilitation planning, and managing underlying conditions like diabetes or anemia
—we cover everything needed for effective recovery.
Can I fix everything? No.
But you won't spend months going from doctor to doctor.
We'll create one integrated treatment plan that actually works for you.
Stem cell and regenerative medicine challenges the limits of conventional medicine.
But it's still largely uncharted territory
—we need deeper research and long-term data to unlock its full potential.
I don't promise what I can't deliver. But I do push boundaries when I see real possibility.
That's why we're developing breakthrough protocols others won't attempt:
- Single-session hair restoration combining adipose stem cells (SVF), micro-fat grafting, and blood stem cells
- Optimized injection formulations for maximum hair loss treatment effectiveness
- Proprietary protocols for chronic skin conditions that conventional medicine can't treat
This research isn't easy.
It demands significant time, resources, and our team's complete dedication.
But that's how we'll change the future of medicine.
Conventional stem cell therapies are now available anywhere.
But if you're seeking cutting-edge protocols based on real clinical expertise, that's what we offer.
When hope feels lost, we're here to help.
Saeron means "new beginning" in Korean — because I believe in second chances.
If every patient walks out believing they can truly change their life,
then I've fulfilled my purpose as a doctor.
Here at Saeron Clinic, our goal is to become Busan's premier anti-aging center
—a place where real new beginnings arise.