South Korea's Top 2% Scientists 2026

South Korea has 4,001 scientists on the 2026 single-year Top 2% list, up 8.3% from 3,695 in 2025. That places South Korea 13th in the world by number of listed scientists. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has the most listed scientists (218), followed by Seoul National University (199).

Single Year

4,001

+306 (+8.3%) vs 2025

Career Data

2,889

+269 (+10.3%) vs 2025

World rank by count

#13

No change vs 2025

Institutes

390

+8 (+2.1%) vs 2025

Scientists in South Korea on the list, by year

The single-year count has grown 87% since 2020.

Single-year list, change on the previous year

2021+26.9%

2022+9.8%

2023+8.7%

2024+8.0%

2025+5.6%

2026+8.3%

Show the numbers

Year	Single Year	Change	Career Data	Change
2020	2,139		1,350
2021	2,715	+26.9%	1,751	+29.7%
2022	2,980	+9.8%	1,901	+8.6%
2023	3,240	+8.7%	2,120	+11.5%
2024	3,498	+8.0%	2,366	+11.6%
2025	3,695	+5.6%	2,620	+10.7%
2026	4,001	+8.3%	2,889	+10.3%

Top 10 institutes in South Korea

By number of listed scientists

Single-year list2026

Show the list

1Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology218
2Seoul National University199
3Korea University163
4Yonsei University130
5Sungkyunkwan University129
6Seoul National University College of Medicine126
7Yeungnam University110
8Hanyang University100
9Kyung Hee University98
10Pohang University of Science and Technology87

All 4,001 scientists

Single-year list2026

Showing the 2026 single-year list. Looking for career rankings? See the career-long list

The first 100 are free to browse.

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Rank in South Korea	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	111	HH Han, Heesup	Sejong University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 1
2	302	PN Park, Nam-gyu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 10
3	305	RJ Rhim, Jong-whan	Kyung Hee University	Food Science	Rank 3
4	320	SY Sun, Yang-kook	Hanyang University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 11
5	561	KK Kim, Ki Hyun	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 10
6	920	SS Sundar, S. Shyam	Sungkyunkwan University	Human Factors	Rank 2
7	1,738	LS Lee, Sang Yup	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biotechnology	Rank 6
8	1,817	RR Ruoff, Rodney S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 52
9	1,853	PS Park, Soo-jin	Kyung Hee University	Polymers	Rank 12
10	1,964	KS Kim, Se-kwon	Hanyang University	Food Science	Rank 15
11	2,478	Kang, Hyun	Chung-Ang University	Anesthesiology	Rank 5
12	2,480	KV Kodur, Venkatesh K.R.	Ewha Womans University	Civil Engineering	Rank 9
13	2,567	Ok, Yong Sik	Korea University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 53
14	2,597	HT Hyeon, Taeghwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 88
15	2,656	CJ Cho, Jaephil P.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 91
16	2,911	KH Kim, Hyoung Seop	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 57
17	2,934	SL Saro, Lee M.	Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 26
18	3,718	SB Sarkar, Biswajit	Yonsei University	Operations Research	Rank 15
19	4,129	YJ Ye, Jongchul	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	Rank 4
20	4,229	FS Fukuzumi, Shunichi	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 54
21	4,298	YD Yoo, Doo-yeol	Yonsei University	Building & Construction	Rank 33
22	4,354	YJ Yoon, Juyoung	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 57
23	5,087	KD Kim, Dae-Hyeong	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 177
24	5,419	PJ Park, Juhyun	Yeungnam University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 63
25	6,372	PJ Park, Joongwon	Hanyang University Medical Center	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 81
26	6,649	AC Ahn, Choon Ki	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 361
27	6,677	PE Park, Eunil	Sungkyunkwan University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 363
28	6,801	Bhatia, Shashi Kant	Konkuk University	Biotechnology	Rank 21
29	7,050	SS Salkuti, Surender Reddy	Woosong University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 384
30	7,317	SH Sohn, Hoon	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Acoustics	Rank 8
31	7,489	KD Kim, Dong Hyun	Kyung Hee University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 38
32	7,491	MK Muhammad, Khan	Sungkyunkwan University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 407
33	7,579	HC Hwang, Cheolseong	Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center	Applied Physics	Rank 149
34	7,801	CJ Choi, Jang Wook	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 254
35	7,802	JH Jo, Hyeon	HJ Institute of Technology and Management	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 421
36	7,900	RS Rhee, Sue Goo	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 114
37	8,247	JM Joshanloo, Mohsen	Keimyung University	Social Psychology	Rank 200
38	8,292	DC De Cooman, Bruno Charles De	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 151
39	8,678	BL Byeong-Joo Lee, Byeong-joo	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 160
40	8,813	CB Cho, Byoungchul	Yonsei Cancer Hospital	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 249
41	8,917	BY Bang, Yung–Jue	Seoul National University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 254
42	9,056	AM Ahn, Myoung-ju	SKKU School of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 259
43	9,096	KV Kim, V. Narry	Seoul National University	Developmental Biology	Rank 237
44	9,240	LB Lee, Byoungho	Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center	Optics	Rank 40
45	9,376	YY Yi, Youjae	Seoul National University	Marketing	Rank 64
46	9,420	SM Steinegger, Martin	School of Biological Sciences	Bioinformatics	Rank 33
47	9,422	VY Vasseghian, Yasser	Soongsil University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 201
48	9,496	GZ Geem, Zong Woo	Gachon University	Energy	Rank 247
49	9,656	LL Linnenbrink-Garcia, Lisa	Korea University	Education	Rank 167
50	9,834	WX Wang, Xiaoyong	Kangwon National University	Building & Construction	Rank 78
51	9,847	MT Muthu, Thiruvengadam	Konkuk University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 119
52	10,195	SY Surh, Young Joon	Seoul National University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 296
53	10,262	Shah, Nehad Ali	Sejong University	Applied Mathematics	Rank 33
54	10,296	PJ Patra, Jayanta Kumar	Dongguk University, Seoul	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 125
55	10,334	RJ Roh, Jong–Lyel	CHA University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 300
56	10,436	KS Ko, Seung Hwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 338
57	10,506	KK Kang, Kisuk	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 342
58	10,849	PY Park, Youngkwon Kwong	University of Seoul	Energy	Rank 285
59	11,190	LJ Lee, Jong-heun	Korea University	Materials	Rank 207
60	11,379	Khan, Muhammad Adnan	Gachon University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 598
61	11,445	PS Park, Seong-ho	Asan Medical Center	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	Rank 25
62	11,640	Alsharif, Mohammed H.	Sejong University	Energy	Rank 303
63	11,724	JE Jo, Eun-kyeong	Chungnam National University, College of Medicine	Microbiology	Rank 199
64	11,726	CW Choi, Wonyong Yong	Korea Institute of Energy Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 35
65	11,806	GB Grzybowski, Bartosz A.	Institute for Basic Science (IBS)	Organic Chemistry	Rank 131
66	12,000	KJ Kim, Jong Seung	Korea University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 135
67	12,136	BH Byeon, Haewon	Korea University of Technology and Education	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 642
68	12,317	JJ Jung, Jaekap	Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science	Applied Physics	Rank 233
69	12,407	RJ Rho, Junsuk	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 399
70	12,500	KS Kim, Sumin	Yonsei University	Building & Construction	Rank 94
71	12,614	LS Lim, Soo	Seoul National University Bundang Hospital	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 198
72	12,673	LT Lee, Taewoo	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 406
73	12,725	AI Ashraf, Imran	Yeungnam University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 674
74	12,743	TA Timmermann, Axel	Pusan National University	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 246
75	12,750	JS Joo, Sangwoo	Yeungnam University	Chemical Physics	Rank 181
76	12,880	NW Nam, Wonwoo	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 39
77	13,010	YS Yoo, Sung-jin	Chung-Ang University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 138
78	13,051	LM Lee, Minhyeok	Chung-Ang University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 689
79	13,079	BY Boo, Yong C.	Kyungpook National University (KNU)	Dermatology & Venereal Diseases	Rank 37
80	13,190	KH Kim, Hyeon Chang	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 407
81	13,246	MV Mukhanov, Viatcheslav F.	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 171
82	13,371	CJ Choi, Jinnam	Graduate School of Business	Business & Management	Rank 401
83	13,566	KE Kwon, Eilhann E.	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 301
84	13,582	NT Nam, Taewoo	Sungkyunkwan University	Information Systems	Rank 56
85	13,800	Lee, Sangmin Michelle	Kyung Hee University	Languages & Linguistics	Rank 94
86	13,816	Kaseem, Mosab	Sejong University	Materials	Rank 250
87	13,904	SJ Shin, Jae Il	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Psychiatry	Rank 274
88	13,931	KY Kim, Yong-ku	Korea University Ansan Hospital	Psychiatry	Rank 275
89	13,941	HJ Hwang, Jang–Yeon	Hanyang University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 449
90	14,199	LH Lee, Haeshin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 459
91	14,287	LJ Lee, Jinwoo	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 464
92	14,432	ZN Zhang, Ning	Yonsei University	Energy	Rank 392
93	14,441	AJ Ahn, Jiseon	Hanyang University Business School	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 67
94	14,495	KJ Kim, Jihn E.	Seoul National University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 181
95	14,501	JH Jang, Ho Won	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 474
96	14,505	YH Yuk, Hyunwoo	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 475
97	14,526	KI Kim, Il Doo	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 476
98	14,963	JH Jung, Hee Tae	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 491
99	14,979	PS Park, Sangwon	Kyung Hee University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 77
100	15,030	NF Nahm, Francis-sahngun	Seoul National University College of Medicine	Anesthesiology	Rank 44
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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2026

Japan5,739 scientists

Netherlands4,889 scientists

Spain4,408 scientists

Switzerland3,595 scientists

Sweden2,728 scientists

Saudi Arabia2,686 scientists

Explore other countries

Single-year list2026

China37,203 scientists

Hong Kong2,108 scientists

Taiwan1,509 scientists

Macau234 scientists

India6,953 scientists

Iran2,678 scientists

All countries on the world map

Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from South Korea are in the 2026 Stanford Top 2% list?

4,001 scientists affiliated with South Korea are on the 2026 single-year list, and 2,889 are on the career-long list.

Which institute in South Korea has the most Top 2% scientists?

On the 2026 single-year list, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has the most listed scientists from South Korea, with 218. It is followed by Seoul National University with 199.

How has the number of Top 2% scientists in South Korea changed since 2020?

On the single-year list, South Korea went from 2,139 scientists in 2020 to 4,001 in 2026, a change of +87.1%.

What is the difference between the single-year and career-long lists?

The single-year list ranks scientists on the citations their work received in one year. The career-long list ranks them on citations across their whole career. Both lists are published every year, and a scientist can be on one, both or neither.

What is the official source of this data?

The rankings come from the science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators published by Ioannidis et al. in the Elsevier Data Repository, updated every year. TOPSCINET, an independent platform, organises that data by country, year, institute and field, so you can compare and explore it.