Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has several advantages over conventional open surgery. Less pain, less morbidity, early recovery and better cosmetic outcomes are well-known benefits of MIS. However, indications of MIS are highly dependent on the experience of surgeon and the disease status, In the benign diseases with less surgical complexity, MIS can be performed relatively and safely. However. in advanced malignant diseases which require more complex surgical manipulation, the of patients and the principles of oncologic surgery should be considered before the selection of surgical methods, MIS would be performed more and more with aid or technologic advancement. However, long-term result with equivalent oncologic outcomes to open surgery is necessary to be one of standard surgical treatments in thoracic surgery.