South Korea's Top 2% Scientists 2024

South Korea has 3,498 scientists on the 2024 single-year Top 2% list, up 8.0% from 3,240 in 2023. That places South Korea 13th in the world by number of listed scientists, up 1 place. Seoul National University has the most listed scientists (256), followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (173).

Single Year

3,498

+258 (+8.0%) vs 2023

Career Data

2,366

+246 (+11.6%) vs 2023

World rank by count

#13

up 1 place vs 2023

Institutes

292

-27 (-8.5%) vs 2023

Scientists in South Korea on the list, by year

The single-year count has grown 64% 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 list2024

Show the list

1Seoul National University256
2Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology173
3Sungkyunkwan University145
4Korea University130
5Seoul National University College of Medicine127
6Yonsei University124
7Hanyang University101
8Yonsei University College of Medicine98
9Kyung Hee University97
10Pohang University of Science and Technology88

All 3,498 scientists

Single-year list2024

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	18	Ryan, Richard M.	Ewha Womans University	Social Psychology	Rank 3
2	164	HH Han, Heesup	Sejong University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 1
3	214	PN Park, Nam Gyu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 8
4	294	SY Sun, Yang Kook	Hanyang University	Energy	Rank 11
5	450	KK Kim, Ki Hyun	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 6
6	498	RJ Rhim, Jong Whan	Kyung Hee University	Food Science	Rank 4
7	1,054	RR Ruoff, Rodney S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 32
8	1,235	SH Srivastava, Hari Mohan	Kyung Hee University	General Mathematics	Rank 3
9	1,440	KS Kim, Se Kwon	Hanyang University	Food Science	Rank 11
10	1,489	LS Lee, Sang Yup	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biotechnology	Rank 4
11	1,503	HT Hyeon, Taeghwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 46
12	1,723	LS Lee, Saro	Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 10
13	2,120	Ok, Yong Sik	Korea University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 40
14	2,319	PS Park, Soo Jin	Inha University	Polymers	Rank 11
15	2,598	CJ Cho, Jaephil	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 92
16	3,208	TB Turner, Benjamin L.	Gyeongsang National University	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 20
17	3,512	FS Fukuzumi, Shunichi	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 50
18	4,000	SS Salkuti, Surender Reddy	Woosong University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 195
19	4,252	KV Kim, V. Narry	Seoul National University	Developmental Biology	Rank 114
20	4,513	Park, Ju H.	Yeungnam University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 54
21	4,530	IG Ikenberry, G. John	Kyung Hee University	International Relations	Rank 5
22	4,569	AC Ahn, Choon Ki	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 217
23	4,968	SB Sarkar, Biswajit	Yonsei University	Operations Research	Rank 16
24	5,467	YJ Yoon, Juyoung	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 76
25	5,675	GZ Geem, Zong Woo	Gachon University	Energy	Rank 133
26	5,792	KD Kim, Dae Hyeong	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 182
27	5,854	CW Choi, Wonyong	Korea Institute of Energy Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 21
28	6,524	HS Halstead, Scott B.	International Vaccine Institute, Seoul	Tropical Medicine	Rank 5
29	6,717	LL Linnenbrink-Garcia, Lisa	Korea University	Education	Rank 65
30	6,757	Kang, Hyun	College of Medicine	Anesthesiology	Rank 15
31	6,839	DC De Cooman, Bruno C.	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 104
32	7,050	BY Bang, Yung Jue	Seoul National University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 225
33	7,207	YD Yoo, Doo Yeol	Yonsei University	Building & Construction	Rank 53
34	7,541	LB Lee, Byoungho	Seoul National University	Optics	Rank 42
35	7,932	PE Park, Eunil	Sungkyunkwan University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 376
36	8,135	CJ Choi, Jang Wook	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 260
37	8,161	SM Shokouhimehr, Mohammadreza	Seoul National University	Materials	Rank 127
38	8,260	HC Hwang, Cheol Seong	Seoul National University	Applied Physics	Rank 170
39	8,363	SY Surh, Young Joon	Seoul National University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 264
40	8,402	KD Kim, Dong Hyun	Kyung Hee University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 45
41	8,587	MK Muhammad, Khan	Sungkyunkwan University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 399
42	8,642	YJ Ye, Jong Chul	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	Rank 14
43	8,846	LB Lee, Byeong Joo	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 144
44	9,112	LH Lee, Haeshin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 286
45	9,256	SH Sohn, Hoon	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Acoustics	Rank 14
46	9,397	OS Oyama, Shigeo Ted	Dankook University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 35
47	9,448	LJ Lee, Jong Heun	Korea University	Materials	Rank 160
48	9,461	KK Kang, Kisuk	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 295
49	9,609	YA Yamada, Atsuo	Sungkyunkwan University	Energy	Rank 229
50	9,894	YY Yi, Youjae	Seoul National University	Marketing	Rank 65
51	9,934	NW Nam, Wonwoo	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 39
52	9,984	KJ Kim, Jong S.	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 531
53	10,168	KV Kalia, Vipin C.	Konkuk University	Microbiology	Rank 188
54	10,180	LC Lee, Choong Ki	Kyung Hee University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 46
55	10,575	GB Grzybowski, Bartosz A.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 327
56	10,587	LJ Lee, Jae Sung	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 41
57	10,664	JM Joshanloo, Mohsen	Keimyung University	Social Psychology	Rank 225
58	11,127	KJ Kim, Jong Seung	Korea University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 140
59	11,142	KG Kumar, Gopalakrishnan	Yonsei University	Biotechnology	Rank 33
60	11,388	VY Vasseghian, Yasser	Soongsil University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 214
61	11,859	LY Lee, Young Ho	Korea University College of Medicine	Arthritis & Rheumatology	Rank 67
62	12,064	YS Yoo, Sung Jin	Chung-Ang University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 128
63	12,210	KH Kim, Hae Won	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 47
64	12,335	NT Nam, Taewoo	Sungkyunkwan University	Information Systems	Rank 53
65	12,458	BK Back, Kyoungwhan	Chonnam National University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 158
66	12,463	KS Ko, Seung Hwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 381
67	12,495	CJ Choi, Jin Nam	Seoul National University	Business & Management	Rank 377
68	13,137	JS Jhung, Sung Hwa	Kyungpook National University (KNU)	Chemical Engineering	Rank 71
69	13,292	PS Park, Sangwon	Kyung Hee University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 57
70	13,312	WS Woo, Sanghyun	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 583
71	13,520	KY Kim, Yong Ku	Korea University Ansan Hospital	Psychiatry	Rank 289
72	13,630	BV Bajpai, Vivek Kumar	Dongguk University, Seoul	Food Science	Rank 96
73	13,677	PH Park, Hyun Jin	Korea University	Food Science	Rank 98
74	13,746	KN Kwak, Nojun	Seoul National University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 599
75	13,773	PY Park, Young Kwon	University of Seoul	Energy	Rank 323
76	13,832	CI Chung, Ill Min	Konkuk University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 174
77	13,841	LY Lee, Young Hee	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 420
78	13,872	RC Ryu, Choong Min	Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 175
79	14,055	PJ Patra, Jayanta Kumar	Dongguk University, Seoul	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 179
80	14,086	KJ Kim, Jihn E.	Seoul National University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 152
81	14,301	SS Sul, Seung Ki	Seoul National University	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 51
82	14,343	BM Bong, Mimi	Korea University	Education	Rank 168
83	15,302	JJ Jang, Jyongsik	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 469
84	15,396	PJ Park, Jong Hyuk	Seoul National University of Science and Technology	Networking & Telecommunications	Rank 144
85	15,569	LT Lee, Tae Woo	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 488
86	15,616	JS Joo, S. W.	Yeungnam University	Chemical Physics	Rank 260
87	15,696	HS Hyun, Sunghyup Sean	Hanyang University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 73
88	15,828	GA Gent, A. N.	Jeonbuk National University	Polymers	Rank 106
89	15,991	CK Choi, Kyung Mook	Korea University College of Medicine	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 266
90	16,109	PJ Park, Joong Won	National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi	Gastroenterology & Hepatology	Rank 195
91	16,129	KK Kim, Kwang S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 271
92	16,267	KE Kwon, Eilhann E.	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 315
93	16,301	LC Lee, Changgu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 515
94	16,336	TA Timmermann, Axel	Pusan National University	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 284
95	16,439	SS Seok, Sang Il	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 519
96	16,502	HJ Hwang, Jang Yeon	Hanyang University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 524
97	16,634	PT Park, Tae Gwan	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 81
98	16,892	OK Ok, Kang Min	Sogang University	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 45
99	16,899	AJ Ahn, Jiseon	Hanyang University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 83
100	16,951	LE Lee, Eun Ju	Seoul National University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 546
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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2024

India5,351 scientistsin 2024

Netherlands4,534 scientistsin 2024

Spain4,008 scientistsin 2024

Switzerland3,404 scientistsin 2024

Sweden2,644 scientistsin 2024

Iran2,325 scientistsin 2024

Explore other countries

Single-year list2024

China27,166 scientistsin 2024

Japan5,609 scientistsin 2024

Hong Kong1,535 scientistsin 2024

Taiwan1,408 scientistsin 2024

Macau109 scientistsin 2024

Saudi Arabia1,684 scientistsin 2024

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from South Korea are in the 2024 Stanford Top 2% list?

3,498 scientists affiliated with South Korea are on the 2024 single-year list, and 2,366 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2024 single-year list, Seoul National University has the most listed scientists from South Korea, with 256. It is followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology with 173.

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 3,498 in 2024, a change of +63.5%.

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.