BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment for patients with perforated gastric ulcer (PGU) remains controversial. This study therefore investigated the treatment status for this disease in clinical practice. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 183 patients with PGU from 1998 to 2007 across 15 institutions, and analyzed patient characteristics and short- and long-term outcomes according to treatments received. RESULTS: Of the 183 patients, 57 who were treated conservatively had less abdominal tenderness, lower levels of serum C-reactive protein, and shorter time to presentation than the 126 patients who underwent emergency surgery. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the 41 successful patients and 16 failed patients in the conservative treatment group; however, the latter had a longer average hospital stay. Eighty-three of the emergency surgery patients who underwent gastrectomy had longer surgical times, greater blood loss, and shorter time to resumption of diet than the 57 patients undergoing stomach-preserving surgery; however, there was no significant difference in postoperative complications and hospital stay between these groups. Of 91 patients who received stomach-preserving treatment, only three had treatment failure in the long-term follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Strictly selected patients should be initially considered for conservative treatment. The short-term outcomes of stomach-preserving surgery are comparable to gastrectomy; however, further evaluation of the long-term outcomes of stomach-preserving treatment is required.