Fashion giant Ralph Lauren is expanding its long-running cancer support efforts into Asia with plans to establish its first cancer recovery centre in the region, in partnership with the National Cancer Center of Korea in Goyang, South Korea.
The Ralph Lauren Center for Patient and Family Recovery will be created in partnership with the Korea National Cancer Center Foundation at the National Cancer Center of Korea (NCC). The centre is expected to open in 2028, according to an announcement from Ralph Lauren on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
Rather than operating as a conventional cancer-treatment hospital, the facility will provide a dedicated recovery and support environment for patients undergoing proton therapy, along with their families and caregivers.
The announcement marks a new chapter in Ralph Lauren's international cancer initiatives, which have supported cancer prevention, treatment access, patient services and efforts to address disparities in cancer care in several countries.
Ralph Lauren's First Cancer Recovery Centre in Asia
The new Ralph Lauren Center for Patient and Family Recovery will be located within the Phase II Proton Therapy Center at the National Cancer Center of Korea's new Innovative Cancer Research Center.
The facility is intended to complement, not replace, the medical treatment provided by the National Cancer Center of Korea. Its focus will be on helping patients and their loved ones manage the broader challenges that can accompany cancer treatment and recovery.
According to Ralph Lauren, the centre will offer resources and programmes designed to support patients' recovery and wellbeing. It will also work alongside the National Cancer Center of Korea's existing supportive care services.
These services are expected to include psychological counselling, family education and social welfare support, giving patients and their relatives access to assistance beyond the clinical aspects of treatment.
The approach reflects a broader understanding of cancer care, where support can continue throughout a patient's treatment and recovery rather than ending when they leave the treatment room.
Supporting Patients, Families and Caregivers
Cancer treatment can be physically and emotionally demanding, particularly for patients undergoing longer or more complex treatment programmes.
The new Ralph Lauren centre is intended to provide a dedicated space where patients, families and caregivers can find information, support and resources during that journey.
Ralph Lauren said the centre will serve patients and families from the Seoul metropolitan area and communities across South Korea, although the facility itself will be based in Goyang, north-west of Seoul.
Ralph Lauren, the company's Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, said the partnership reflects his belief that people facing cancer should have access not only to high-quality medical care but also to resources that can support them and their loved ones throughout the cancer journey.
He described the South Korean project as an important step towards helping more patients and families navigate cancer with dignity, comfort and hope.
Han-Kwang Yang, President of the National Cancer Center of Korea and Chairman of the Board of the Korea National Cancer Center Foundation, also highlighted the importance of supporting patients beyond medical treatment.
He said cancer care should extend to helping people return to everyday life and improve their quality of life, particularly for those undergoing longer treatment periods such as proton therapy.
Ralph Lauren's Cancer Support in South Korea Since 2012
The new centre builds on Ralph Lauren's existing cancer-related work in South Korea.
The company says it has supported cancer initiatives in the country since 2012, making the new centre an extension of an established commitment rather than a completely new presence in South Korea.
The National Cancer Center of Korea is a major institution for cancer research and care, with responsibilities spanning cancer prevention, screening, treatment, survivorship and palliative care.
The scale of cancer survivorship in South Korea also highlights the importance of long-term support. According to the country's 2023 National Cancer Registry Statistics, around 2.73 million people were living with cancer in 2023.
That growing population of cancer patients and survivors has increased the importance of services that address not only treatment, but also recovery, wellbeing and quality of life.
Part of Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony Initiative
The new South Korean centre is supported by Pink Pony, Ralph Lauren's global cancer initiative.
Established in 2000, Pink Pony aims to help address disparities in cancer care by supporting access to quality treatment at an earlier stage. Its work includes marketing campaigns, dedicated product collections, employee volunteering and fundraising.
Ralph Lauren said Pink Pony currently supports 38 beneficiaries across 17 countries, with the initiative funding a range of cancer-related organisations and programmes around the world. The South Korean project will join a wider network of Ralph Lauren-supported cancer centres and initiatives.
These include the Memorial Sloan Kettering Ralph Lauren Center in Harlem, New York, as well as Ralph Lauren cancer centres and initiatives connected with Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and UChicago Medicine.
The company also supports cancer-related initiatives in the UK through the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Centre Expected To Open in 2028
For now, the Ralph Lauren Center for Patient and Family Recovery remains a planned project, with the opening expected in 2028.
Once completed, it will provide a dedicated space within the National Cancer Center of Korea for patients receiving proton therapy, as well as the families and caregivers supporting them.
The project represents what Ralph Lauren describes as its first cancer centre in Asia, extending the fashion company's established cancer support network into South Korea.
Importantly, the centre is not being presented as a standalone cancer hospital. Instead, its purpose is to complement medical treatment by giving patients and families additional access to support, information and recovery-focused resources.
For people navigating the challenges of cancer treatment, the initiative reflects a growing emphasis on care that considers the patient as a whole, including emotional wellbeing, family support and the difficult transition back to everyday life.
