South Korea's Top 2% Scientists 2021: Career-Long List

South Korea has 1,751 scientists on the 2021 career-long Top 2% list, up 29.7% from 1,350 in 2020. That places South Korea 17th in the world by number of listed scientists, up 1 place. Seoul National University has the most listed scientists (178), followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (142).

Single Year

2,715

+576 (+26.9%) vs 2020

Career Data

1,751

+401 (+29.7%) vs 2020

World rank by count

#17

up 1 place vs 2020

Institutes

224

+45 (+25.1%) vs 2020

Scientists in South Korea on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 30% since 2020.

Career-long list, change on the previous year

2021+29.7%

2022+8.6%

2023+11.5%

2024+11.6%

2025+10.7%

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

Career-long list2021

Show the list

1Seoul National University178
2Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology142
3Pohang University of Science and Technology93
4Yonsei University85
5Korea University74
6Sungkyunkwan University67
7Hanyang University58
8Kyung Hee University46
9Inha University39
10Kyungpook National University38

All 1,751 scientists

Career-long 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	425	RR Ruoff, Rodney S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 15
2	1,014	HT Hyeon, Taeghwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 27
3	1,461	LS Lee, Sang Yup	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biotechnology	Rank 3
4	1,487	SY Surh, Young Joon	Seoul National University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 65
5	1,573	FS Fukuzumi, Shunichi	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 25
6	1,903	PN Park, Nam Gyu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 43
7	2,320	Park, Ju H.	Yeungnam University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 8
8	2,370	MS Mirjalili, Seyedali	Yonsei University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 54
9	2,373	CJ Cho, Jaephil	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 49
10	2,471	SY Sun, Yang Kook	Hanyang University	Energy	Rank 24
11	2,570	PT Park, Tae Gwan	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 16
12	3,368	KS Kim, Se Kwon	Hanyang University	Food Science	Rank 8
13	4,036	CW Choi, Wonyong	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 18
14	4,048	KV Kim, V. Narry	Korea Basic Science Institute	Developmental Biology	Rank 240
15	4,931	JJ Jang, Jyongsik	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 77
16	5,043	KK Kim, Kimoon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 115
17	5,318	GS Granick, Steve	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 156
18	6,543	KK Kim, Ki Hyun	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 28
19	6,979	RR Ryoo, Ryong	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Physical Chemistry	Rank 31
20	7,374	NW Nam, Wonwoo	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 61
21	8,393	KS Kim, Seong Gi	Sungkyunkwan University	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 738
22	8,520	BY Bang, Yung Jue	Seoul National University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 389
23	8,999	LJ Lee, Jae Sung	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 40
24	9,061	RJ Rhim, Jong Whan	Kyung Hee University	Food Science	Rank 23
25	9,097	KJ Kim, Jong S.	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 789
26	9,232	KK Kim, Kwang S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 239
27	9,433	LB Lee, Byoungho	Seoul National University	Optics	Rank 42
28	9,766	SD Shen, Dinggang	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 165
29	10,108	LJ Lee, J.	Korea University	Materials	Rank 122
30	10,134	PS Paik, Soonmyung	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 465
31	10,202	YJ Yoon, Juyoung	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 218
32	10,870	LS Lee, Saro	Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 24
33	11,375	GZ Geem, Zong Woo	Gachon University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 191
34	11,708	KD Kim, Dong Hyun	Kyung Hee University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 84
35	12,550	PS Park, Soo Jin	Inha University	Polymers	Rank 108
36	12,752	MV Mukhanov, Viatcheslav	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 200
37	13,409	HH Han, Heesup	Sejong University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 12
38	13,469	HW Holzapfel, Wilhelm H.	Handong Global University	Microbiology	Rank 314
39	13,626	HC Hwang, Cheol Seong	Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center	Applied Physics	Rank 312
40	13,711	CM Cho, Minhaeng	Korea University	Chemical Physics	Rank 345
41	14,198	LC Lee, Chung Hak	Seoul National University	Applied Physics	Rank 328
42	14,238	SG Samara, George A.	University of Ulsan	Applied Physics	Rank 329
43	14,834	KJ Kim, Jihn E.	Kyung Hee University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 229
44	14,988	LY Lee, Young Moo	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 131
45	15,147	KH Kim, Hae Won	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 69
46	15,466	KS Kim, Sanghyun	Pusan National University	General Physics	Rank 105
47	15,508	SS Sul, Seung Ki	Seoul National University	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 39
48	15,828	GB Grzybowski, Bartosz A.	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 166
49	16,201	DC De Cooman, Bruno C.	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 187
50	16,307	HJ Han, Jung Hoon	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 381
51	16,524	KH Kim, Hyoung Seop	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 192
52	16,695	IG Ikenberry, G. John	Kyung Hee University	International Relations	Rank 4
53	17,125	KT Kim, Taekyun	Kwangwoon University	General Mathematics	Rank 44
54	17,980	PH Park, Hyun Jin	Korea University	Food Science	Rank 51
55	18,883	AG An, Gynheung	Kyung Hee University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 198
56	19,179	TA Tounsi, Abdelouahed	Yonsei University	Civil Engineering	Rank 22
57	19,181	CB Choi, Byung Ihn	College of Medicine	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	Rank 97
58	19,904	KJ Koh, Jae Young	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 1,597
59	20,875	SH Sohn, Hoon	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Acoustics	Rank 32
60	20,964	BF Barlat, Frédéric	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 244
61	21,051	LY Lee, Young Hee	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 515
62	21,124	LH Lee, Haeshin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 213
63	22,089	KK Kim, K.	Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.	Applied Physics	Rank 534
64	22,398	KK Koh, Kwang Kon	Gachon University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 966
65	22,606	PP Park, Poo Gyeon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 152
66	23,026	KB Kim, Byung Kyu	Pusan National University	Polymers	Rank 213
67	23,652	PS Park, Seung Jung	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 1,012
68	23,719	KJ Knowles, Jonathan C.	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 104
69	23,998	LK Lee, Kuen Yong	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 218
70	24,062	CY Choi, Yung Hyun	Dong Eui University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 1,111
71	24,234	LJ Lee, Jay H.	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 169
72	24,242	YM Yoo, M. H.	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 292
73	24,481	CS Choi, Seung Bok	Inha University	Materials	Rank 297
74	25,212	KS Kim, Sungwhan	Seoul National University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 214
75	25,267	PJ Paik, Jeom Kee	Pusan National University	Civil Engineering	Rank 33
76	25,887	LB Lee, Byeong Joo	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 308
77	26,410	CS Cho, Sung Bae	Yonsei University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 439
78	26,425	JC Jun, Chul Ho	Yonsei University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 520
79	26,944	SM Suh, Myunghyun Paik	Seoul National University	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 185
80	27,652	LJ Lee, Jun Yeob	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 671
81	27,666	YY Yi, Youjae	Seoul National University	Marketing	Rank 45
82	27,758	FS Flach, S.	University of Science and Technology (UST)	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 223
83	28,212	RJ Roh, Jong Lyel	College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 1,286
84	28,323	LS Lee, Sung Gyu	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Surgery	Rank 229
85	29,001	KK Kuwajima, Kunihiro	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 1,342
86	29,228	KY Kim, Young Hoo	Joint Replacement Center of Seoul Metropolitan SeoNam Hospital	Orthopedics	Rank 192
87	29,789	KG Koh, Gou Young	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 1,367
88	30,099	KJ Kim, J. H.	Chungnam National University	Applied Physics	Rank 744
89	31,126	YJ Yun, Jong Won	Daegu University	Biotechnology	Rank 78
90	31,708	KY Kim, Young Ho	Chungnam National University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 89
91	31,968	KD Kim, Dongho	Yonsei University	General Chemistry	Rank 155
92	32,133	JH Jeong, Hawoong	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 271
93	32,332	KH Kim, Hyun Min	Yonsei University	Materials	Rank 393
94	32,490	KJ Kim, Jin Young	Chonnam National University	Networking & Telecommunications	Rank 259
95	33,021	AC Ahn, Choon Ki	Korea University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 254
96	33,178	TA Timmermann, Axel	Pusan National University	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 464
97	33,746	SC Song, Choong Eui	Sungkyunkwan University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 660
98	33,792	WJ White, John M.	Yeungnam University	Chemical Physics	Rank 771
99	35,615	CH Choi, Han Ho	Dongguk University, Seoul	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 86
100	35,961	KH Kim, Hyungjun	Yonsei University	Applied Physics	Rank 893
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2021

India2,042 scientistsin 2021

Israel1,870 scientistsin 2021

Denmark1,808 scientistsin 2021

Belgium1,666 scientistsin 2021

Taiwan1,479 scientistsin 2021

Finland1,217 scientistsin 2021

Explore other countries

Career-long list2021

Japan7,362 scientistsin 2021

China6,943 scientistsin 2021

Hong Kong1,018 scientistsin 2021

Macau31 scientistsin 2021

Singapore876 scientistsin 2021

Turkey828 scientistsin 2021

All countries on the world map

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 career-long list, Seoul National University has the most listed scientists from South Korea, with 178. It is followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology with 142.

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

On the career-long list, South Korea went from 1,350 scientists in 2020 to 1,751 in 2021, a change of +29.7%.

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.