South Korea's Top 2% Scientists 2021

South Korea has 2,715 scientists on the 2021 single-year Top 2% list, up 26.9% from 2,139 in 2020. That places South Korea 14th in the world by number of listed scientists. Seoul National University has the most listed scientists (187), followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (145).

Single Year

2,715

+576 (+26.9%) vs 2020

Career Data

1,751

+401 (+29.7%) vs 2020

World rank by count

#14

No change vs 2020

Institutes

269

+59 (+28.1%) vs 2020

Scientists in South Korea on the list, by year

The single-year count has grown 27% 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%

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%

Top 10 institutes in South Korea

By number of listed scientists

Single-year list2021

Show the list

1Seoul National University187
2Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology145
3Yonsei University103
4Sungkyunkwan University97
5Korea University96
6Pohang University of Science and Technology91
7Kyung Hee University78
8Hanyang University69
9University of Ulsan College of Medicine63
10Kyungpook National University61

All 2,715 scientists

Single-year list2021

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	21	MS Mirjalili, Seyedali	Yonsei University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 4
2	235	PN Park, Nam Gyu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 13
3	432	RR Ruoff, Rodney S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 20
4	498	HH Han, Heesup	Sejong University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 2
5	511	SY Sun, Yang Kook	Hanyang University	Energy	Rank 13
6	576	KK Kim, Ki Hyun	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 6
7	1,000	KS Kim, Se Kwon	Hanyang University	Food Science	Rank 8
8	1,068	HT Hyeon, Taeghwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 38
9	1,101	CJ Cho, Jaephil	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 40
10	1,212	LS Lee, Sang Yup	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biotechnology	Rank 4
11	1,243	RJ Rhim, Jong Whan	Kyung Hee University	Food Science	Rank 9
12	2,026	LS Lee, Saro	Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 7
13	2,074	FS Fukuzumi, Shunichi	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 19
14	2,238	SD Shen, Dinggang	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 88
15	2,283	KV Kim, V. Narry	Korea Basic Science Institute	Developmental Biology	Rank 96
16	2,505	Park, Ju H.	Yeungnam University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 21
17	2,795	TA Tounsi, Abdelouahed	Yonsei University	Civil Engineering	Rank 6
18	3,443	PS Park, Soo Jin	Inha University	Polymers	Rank 17
19	3,891	LJ Lee, J.	Korea University	Materials	Rank 67
20	3,892	SY Surh, Young Joon	Seoul National University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 131
21	3,926	GS Gurunathan, Sangiliyandi	Konkuk University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 123
22	4,088	CW Choi, Wonyong	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 21
23	4,388	GZ Geem, Zong Woo	Gachon University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 131
24	4,687	Ok, Yong Sik	Korea University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 50
25	4,912	YJ Yoon, Juyoung	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 73
26	5,132	DC De Cooman, Bruno C.	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 85
27	5,318	KD Kim, Dong Hyun	Kyung Hee University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 22
28	5,748	BY Bang, Yung Jue	Seoul National University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 204
29	5,751	NW Nam, Wonwoo	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 38
30	5,785	SB Sarkar, Biswajit	Yonsei University	Operations Research	Rank 25
31	6,086	KH Kim, Hyoung Seop	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 98
32	6,124	LH Lee, Haeshin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 170
33	6,853	KD Kim, Dae Hyeong	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 189
34	7,009	YY Yi, Youjae	Seoul National University	Marketing	Rank 32
35	7,313	LB Lee, Byoungho	Seoul National University	Optics	Rank 39
36	7,522	CJ Choi, Jang Wook	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 204
37	7,564	RS Reddy, S. Surender	Woosong University	Energy	Rank 154
38	8,151	SH Sohn, Hoon	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Acoustics	Rank 15
39	8,539	JJ Jang, Jyongsik	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 222
40	8,668	KJ Kim, Jong S.	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 527
41	8,854	GB Grzybowski, Bartosz A.	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 232
42	8,900	RR Ryoo, Ryong	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Physical Chemistry	Rank 46
43	9,320	KK Kim, Kimoon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 139
44	9,400	IG Ikenberry, G. John	Kyung Hee University	International Relations	Rank 4
45	9,847	LJ Lee, Jae Sung	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 52
46	9,868	KJ Kim, Jihn E.	Kyung Hee University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 120
47	9,886	KK Kang, Ki Suk	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 255
48	10,034	HC Hwang, Cheol Seong	Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center	Applied Physics	Rank 207
49	10,336	MV Mukhanov, Viatcheslav	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 125
50	10,460	BF Barlat, Frédéric	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 173
51	10,941	KJ Kim, Jin Soo	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Developmental Biology	Rank 396
52	10,951	HW Holzapfel, Wilhelm H.	Handong Global University	Microbiology	Rank 239
53	11,080	HJ Han, Jung Hoon	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 225
54	11,105	CS Chang, Sea Jin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Business & Management	Rank 273
55	11,319	PT Park, Tae Gwan	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 55
56	11,355	LC Lee, Choong Ki	Kyung Hee University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 41
57	11,387	AC Ahn, Choon Ki	Korea University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 108
58	11,514	KS Kim, Sanghyun	Pusan National University	General Physics	Rank 70
59	12,236	NT Nam, Taewoo	Sungkyunkwan University	Information Systems	Rank 37
60	12,457	Pandey, Sadanand	Yeungnam University	Polymers	Rank 89
61	12,628	CY Choi, Yung Hyun	Dong Eui University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 466
62	12,636	GS Granick, Steve	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 244
63	12,683	AS Ahn, Sung Hoon	Seoul National University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 129
64	13,026	BM Bong, Mimi	Korea University	Education	Rank 103
65	13,184	LY Lee, Y. H.	Korea University College of Medicine	Arthritis & Rheumatology	Rank 84
66	13,189	LY Lee, Young Hee	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 272
67	13,322	PE Park, Eunil	Sungkyunkwan University	Energy	Rank 265
68	13,569	YS Yoo, Sung Jin	Chung-Ang University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 137
69	13,668	LC Lee, Changgu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 338
70	14,001	SM Shokouhimehr, Mohammadreza	Seoul National University	Materials	Rank 244
71	14,018	JE Jo, Eun Kyeong	Chungnam National University	Microbiology	Rank 310
72	14,019	OK Ok, Kang Min	Sogang University	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 55
73	14,073	KK Kim, Kwang S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 274
74	14,398	AM Ahn, Myung Ju	SKKU School of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 529
75	15,176	PJ Paik, Jeom Kee	Pusan National University	Civil Engineering	Rank 59
76	15,225	LB Lee, Byeong Joo	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 270
77	15,229	LT Lee, Tae Woo	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 386
78	15,359	KV Kalia, Vipin Chandra	Konkuk University	Microbiology	Rank 339
79	15,395	KI Kim, Il Doo	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 390
80	15,429	JS Jhung, Sung Hwa	Kyungpook National University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 82
81	15,607	KJ Kim, Jong Seung	Korea University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 219
82	15,803	KH Kim, Hae Won	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 68
83	15,990	CJ Choi, Jin Nam	Seoul National University	Business & Management	Rank 386
84	16,083	PH Park, Hyun Jin	Korea University	Food Science	Rank 91
85	16,269	RJ Roh, Jong Lyel	College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 597
86	16,285	PS Paik, Soonmyung	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 598
87	16,333	CJ Chun, Jongsik	Seoul National University	Microbiology	Rank 360
88	16,392	SS Seok, Sang Il	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 415
89	16,643	MS Myung, Seung Taek	Sejong University	Energy	Rank 337
90	16,707	PJ Park, Joo Hyun	Hanyang University ERICA Campus	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 3
91	16,725	Das, Kinkar Chandra	Sungkyunkwan University	General Mathematics	Rank 60
92	17,167	LJ Lee, Jay H.	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 176
93	17,483	LJ Lee, Jun Yeob	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 352
94	17,884	MK Mills, Kenneth C.	Yonsei University	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 4
95	17,995	SS Sul, Seung Ki	Seoul National University	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 55
96	18,155	CK Choi, Kyung Mook	Korea University College of Medicine	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 352
97	18,537	LK Lee, Kuen Yong	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 151
98	18,669	HS Hyun, Sunghyup Sean	Hanyang University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 67
99	18,735	LZ Li, Zhixiong	Yonsei University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 193
100	18,817	HJ Hwang, Jang Yeon	Chonnam National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 462
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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2021

Spain3,402 scientistsin 2021

India3,352 scientistsin 2021

Switzerland3,016 scientistsin 2021

Sweden2,438 scientistsin 2021

Denmark1,795 scientistsin 2021

Belgium1,780 scientistsin 2021

Explore other countries

Single-year list2021

China16,611 scientistsin 2021

Japan5,416 scientistsin 2021

Taiwan1,358 scientistsin 2021

Hong Kong1,227 scientistsin 2021

Macau59 scientistsin 2021

Iran1,701 scientistsin 2021

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from South Korea are in the 2021 Stanford Top 2% list?

2,715 scientists affiliated with South Korea are on the 2021 single-year list, and 1,751 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2021 single-year list, Seoul National University has the most listed scientists from South Korea, with 187. It is followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology with 145.

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 2,715 in 2021, a change of +26.9%.

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.