South Korea's Top 2% Scientists 2022: Career-Long List

South Korea has 1,901 scientists on the 2022 career-long Top 2% list, up 8.6% from 1,751 in 2021. That places South Korea 17th in the world by number of listed scientists. Seoul National University has the most listed scientists (156), followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (155).

Single Year

2,980

+265 (+9.8%) vs 2021

Career Data

1,901

+150 (+8.6%) vs 2021

World rank by count

#17

No change vs 2021

Institutes

242

+18 (+8.0%) vs 2021

Scientists in South Korea on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 41% 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 list2022

Show the list

1Seoul National University156
2Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology155
3Pohang University of Science and Technology89
4Yonsei University88
5Korea University81
6Hanyang University67
7Sungkyunkwan University66
8Inha University43
9Kyung Hee University42
10Kyungpook National University35

All 1,901 scientists

Career-long list2022

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	427	RR Ruoff, Rodney S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 15
2	988	HT Hyeon, Taeghwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 29
3	1,236	RS Rhee, Sue Goo	Yonsei University	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 71
4	1,404	LS Lee, Sang Yup	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biotechnology	Rank 2
5	1,529	SY Surh, Young Joon	College of Pharmacy	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 64
6	1,569	FS Fukuzumi, Shunichi	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 47
7	1,729	PN Park, Nam Gyu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 45
8	1,798	MS Mirjalili, Seyedali	Yonsei University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 45
9	2,368	SY Sun, Yang Kook	Hanyang University	Energy	Rank 22
10	2,399	CJ Cho, Jaephil	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 54
11	2,407	Park, Ju H.	Yeungnam University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 9
12	2,625	PT Park, Tae Gwan	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 15
13	3,049	KS Kim, Se Kwon	Hanyang University	Food Science	Rank 8
14	4,093	KV Kim, V. Narry	Korea Basic Science Institute	Developmental Biology	Rank 226
15	4,152	CW Choi, Wonyong	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 16
16	4,604	GK Govindan, Kannan	Yonsei University	Operations Research	Rank 8
17	4,971	JJ Jang, Jyongsik	SNU College of Engineering	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 81
18	5,195	KK Kim, Kimoon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 125
19	5,541	GS Granick, Steve	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 153
20	5,673	KK Kim, Ki Hyun	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 25
21	7,150	NW Nam, Wonwoo	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 53
22	7,210	RR Ryoo, Ryong	Korea Institute of Energy Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 30
23	7,880	PS Park, Soo Jin	Inha University	Polymers	Rank 62
24	8,019	RJ Rhim, Jong Whan	Kyung Hee University	Food Science	Rank 22
25	8,207	BY Bang, Yung Jue	Seoul National University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 374
26	8,816	KJ Kim, Jong S.	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 769
27	8,873	KS Kim, Seong Gi	Sungkyunkwan University	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 772
28	9,082	KK Kim, Kwang S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 224
29	9,129	LJ Lee, Jae Sung	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 39
30	9,206	LB Lee, Byoungho	Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering	Optics	Rank 41
31	10,174	LJ Lee, Jong Heun	Korea University	Materials	Rank 120
32	10,354	YJ Yoon, Juyoung	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 227
33	10,360	LS Lee, Saro	Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 24
34	10,472	PS Paik, Soonmyung	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 477
35	11,311	KD Kim, Dong Hyun	Kyung Hee University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 80
36	11,630	GZ Geem, Zong Woo	Gachon University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 214
37	12,176	HH Han, Heesup	Sejong University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 11
38	12,802	MV Mukhanov, V. F.	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 185
39	13,359	HC Hwang, Cheol Seong	Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center	Applied Physics	Rank 338
40	13,666	HW Holzapfel, Wilhelm Heinrich	Handong Global University	Microbiology	Rank 323
41	14,042	CM Cho, Minhaeng	Korea University	Chemical Physics	Rank 341
42	14,246	IG Ikenberry, G. John	Kyung Hee University	International Relations	Rank 3
43	14,275	KJ Kim, J.	Kyung Hee University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 205
44	14,615	LC Lee, Chung Hak	Seoul National University	Applied Physics	Rank 367
45	14,862	SG Samara, George A.	University of Ulsan	Applied Physics	Rank 371
46	14,901	KH Kim, Hae Won	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 64
47	15,053	SS Sul, Seung Ki	Seoul National University	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 39
48	15,242	LY Lee, Young Moo	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 129
49	15,465	KS Kim, Sanghyun	Pusan National University	General Physics	Rank 90
50	15,876	DC De Cooman, Bruno C.	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 181
51	15,912	HJ Han, Jung Hoon	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 405
52	16,086	KH Kim, Hyoung Seop	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 185
53	16,329	GB Grzybowski, Bartosz A.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 178
54	16,803	KT Kim, Taekyun	Kwangwoon University	General Mathematics	Rank 45
55	17,908	PH Park, Hyun Jin	Korea University	Food Science	Rank 54
56	19,298	AG An, Gynheung	Kyung Hee University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 203
57	19,429	CB Choi, Byung Ihn	Chung-Ang University Hospital	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	Rank 98
58	20,281	BF Barlat, Frederic	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 234
59	20,838	LH Lee, Haeshin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 225
60	20,848	SH Sohn, Hoon	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Acoustics	Rank 31
61	21,164	KJ Koh, Jae Young	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 1,706
62	21,259	KK Kim, Kinam	Yujin Machinery Ltd.	Applied Physics	Rank 549
63	21,720	LY Lee, Young Hee	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 231
64	22,686	CY Choi, Yung Hyun	Dong Eui University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 1,034
65	22,847	PP Park, Poo Gyeon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 153
66	23,098	KK Koh, Kwang Kon	Gachon University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 982
67	23,243	KJ Knowles, Jonathan C.	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 99
68	23,832	KB Kim, Byung Kyu	Pusan National University	Polymers	Rank 210
69	23,854	PS Park, Seung Jung	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 1,011
70	23,984	PJ Paik, Jeom Kee	Pusan National University	Civil Engineering	Rank 30
71	24,000	LJ Lee, Jay H.	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 171
72	24,123	LK Lee, Kuen Yong	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 215
73	24,940	CS Choi, S. B.	The State University of New York, Korea	Materials	Rank 289
74	25,178	YM Yoo, M. H.	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 292
75	25,324	LB Lee, Byeong Joo	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 293
76	25,522	CS Cho, Sung Bae	Yonsei University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 467
77	26,673	FS Flach, Sergej	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 210
78	26,796	JC Jun, Chul Ho	Yonsei University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 539
79	27,329	Gani, Rafiqul	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Engineering	Rank 101
80	27,339	GS Gurunathan, Sangiliyandi	Konkuk University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 284
81	27,814	YY Yi, Youjae	Seoul National University	Marketing	Rank 47
82	27,845	RJ Roh, Jong Lyel	College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 1,267
83	28,123	LJ Lee, Jun Yeob	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 738
84	28,277	SM Suh, Myunghyun Paik	Seoul National University	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 167
85	28,416	KY Kim, Young Hoo	Joint Replacement Center of Seoul Metropolitan SeoNam Hospital	Orthopedics	Rank 189
86	28,476	KM Kashiwara, Masaki	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	General Mathematics	Rank 94
87	28,723	LS Lee, Sung Gyu	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Surgery	Rank 234
88	29,238	KG Koh, Gou Young	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 1,369
89	30,593	KJ Kim, J. H.	Chungnam National University	Applied Physics	Rank 803
90	30,955	AC Ahn, Choon Ki	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 584
91	31,073	YJ Yun, Jong Won	Daegu University	Biotechnology	Rank 74
92	31,808	KY Kim, Young Ho	Chungnam National University	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 490
93	32,243	TA Timmermann, Axel	Pusan National University	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 443
94	32,554	KD Kim, Dongho	Yonsei University	General Chemistry	Rank 142
95	32,581	KS Kim, Sung Jin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 186
96	33,417	SC Song, Choong Eui	Sungkyunkwan University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 678
97	33,464	JH Jeong, Hawoong	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 281
98	34,226	KH Kim, Hyunmin	Yonsei University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 147
99	35,074	Lee, Seong Whan	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 651
100	35,303	CH Choi, Han Ho	Dongguk University, Seoul	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 88
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2022

India2,206 scientistsin 2022

Israel1,958 scientistsin 2022

Denmark1,955 scientistsin 2022

Belgium1,769 scientistsin 2022

Taiwan1,601 scientistsin 2022

Finland1,304 scientistsin 2022

Explore other countries

Career-long list2022

China7,693 scientistsin 2022

Japan7,630 scientistsin 2022

Hong Kong1,099 scientistsin 2022

Macau48 scientistsin 2022

Singapore934 scientistsin 2022

Turkey906 scientistsin 2022

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from South Korea are in the 2022 Stanford Top 2% list?

2,980 scientists affiliated with South Korea are on the 2022 single-year list, and 1,901 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2022 career-long list, Seoul National University has the most listed scientists from South Korea, with 156. It is followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology with 155.

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 1,901 in 2022, a change of +40.8%.

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.