South Korea's Top 2% Scientists 2024: Career-Long List

South Korea has 2,366 scientists on the 2024 career-long Top 2% list, up 11.6% from 2,120 in 2023. That places South Korea 15th in the world by number of listed scientists. Seoul National University has the most listed scientists (259), followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (162).

Single Year

3,498

+258 (+8.0%) vs 2023

Career Data

2,366

+246 (+11.6%) vs 2023

World rank by count

#15

No change vs 2023

Institutes

219

-34 (-13.4%) vs 2023

Scientists in South Korea on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 75% 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 list2024

Show the list

1Seoul National University259
2Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology162
3Yonsei University113
4Sungkyunkwan University108
5Korea University106
6Pohang University of Science and Technology92
7Hanyang University75
8Kyung Hee University60
9Seoul National University College of Medicine53
10Inha University47

All 2,366 scientists

Career-long 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	83	RR Ryan, Richard	Ewha Womans University	Social Psychology	Rank 3
2	465	RR Ruoff, Rodney S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 16
3	981	HT Hyeon, Taeghwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 32
4	1,042	PN Park, Nam Gyu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 33
5	1,147	LS Lee, Sang Yup	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biotechnology	Rank 1
6	1,341	SY Sun, Yang Kook	Hanyang University	Energy	Rank 17
7	1,565	FS Fukuzumi, Shunichi	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 45
8	1,657	SY Surh, Young Joon	Seoul National University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 72
9	1,875	HS Halstead, Scott B.	International Vaccine Institute, Seoul	Tropical Medicine	Rank 5
10	2,204	CJ Cho, Jaephil	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 55
11	2,283	Park, Ju H.	Yeungnam University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 9
12	2,313	KS Kim, Se Kwon	Hanyang University	Food Science	Rank 6
13	2,732	KK Kim, Ki Hyun	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 9
14	3,120	PT Park, Tae Gwan	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 17
15	3,838	RJ Rhim, Jong Whan	Kyung Hee University	Food Science	Rank 11
16	3,841	CW Choi, Wonyong	Korea Institute of Energy Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 17
17	3,970	KV Kim, V. Narry	Seoul National University	Developmental Biology	Rank 208
18	4,076	SH Srivastava, Hari Mohan	Kyung Hee University	General Mathematics	Rank 9
19	4,532	HH Han, Heesup	Sejong University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 3
20	4,641	OS Oyama, Shigeo Ted	Dankook University	Physical Chemistry	Rank 19
21	5,078	JJ Jang, Jyongsik	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 88
22	5,760	KK Kim, Kimoon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 134
23	6,878	NW Nam, Wonwoo	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 50
24	7,080	LS Lee, Saro	Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 15
25	7,359	BY Bang, Yung Jue	Seoul National University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 327
26	7,375	TB Turner, Benjamin L.	Gyeongsang National University	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 28
27	7,619	RR Ryoo, Ryong	Korea Institute of Energy Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 30
28	7,703	KJ Kim, Jong S.	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 652
29	7,921	PS Park, Soo Jin	Inha University	Polymers	Rank 63
30	8,234	LB Lee, Byoungho	Seoul National University	Optics	Rank 40
31	8,561	LJ Lee, Jae Sung	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 34
32	8,988	LJ Lee, Jong Heun	Korea University	Materials	Rank 109
33	8,989	YJ Yoon, Juyoung	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 193
34	9,189	GZ Geem, Zong Woo	Gachon University	Energy	Rank 93
35	9,204	KK Kim, Kwang S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 215
36	9,445	IG Ikenberry, G. John	Kyung Hee University	International Relations	Rank 3
37	10,185	KS Kim, Seong Gi	Sungkyunkwan University	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 843
38	10,818	KD Kim, Dong Hyun	Kyung Hee University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 64
39	10,869	YA Yamada, Atsuo	Sungkyunkwan University	Energy	Rank 114
40	11,204	GA Gent, A. N.	Jeonbuk National University	Polymers	Rank 88
41	11,705	HC Hwang, Cheol Seong	Seoul National University	Applied Physics	Rank 290
42	11,706	PS Paik, Soonmyung	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 518
43	12,871	KH Kim, Hae Won	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 51
44	13,255	DC De Cooman, Bruno C.	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 157
45	13,622	KJ Kim, Jihn E.	Seoul National University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 181
46	13,694	HW Holzapfel, Wilhelm H.	Handong Global University	Microbiology	Rank 329
47	14,016	CM Cho, Minhaeng	Korea University	Chemical Physics	Rank 330
48	14,190	SS Sul, Seung Ki	Seoul National University	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 37
49	14,653	LY Lee, Young Moo	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 117
50	14,866	GB Grzybowski, Bartosz A.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 198
51	15,170	WM Whangbo, Myung Hwan	Kyung Hee University	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 89
52	15,956	PH Park, Hyun Jin	Korea University	Food Science	Rank 59
53	16,112	KT Kim, T.	Kwangwoon University	General Mathematics	Rank 41
54	16,142	LC Lee, Chung Hak	Seoul National University	Applied Physics	Rank 386
55	17,082	SG Samara, George A.	University of Ulsan	Applied Physics	Rank 411
56	17,801	LH Lee, Haeshin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 230
57	17,816	AC Ahn, Choon Ki	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 377
58	17,936	SH Sohn, Hoon	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Acoustics	Rank 27
59	18,457	BF Barlat, Frederic	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 226
60	18,917	AG An, Gynheung	Kyung Hee University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 199
61	19,365	CY Choi, Yung Hyun	Dong-Eui University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 870
62	19,728	LB Lee, Byeong Joo	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 240
63	20,337	CB Choi, Byung Ihn	College of Medicine	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	Rank 97
64	20,989	LY Lee, Young Hee	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 273
65	21,870	KJ Knowles, Jonathan C.	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 95
66	22,001	PP Park, Poo Gyeon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 155
67	22,248	KK Kim, Kinam	Yujin Machinery Ltd.	Applied Physics	Rank 545
68	22,423	JS Joo, S. W.	Yeungnam University	Chemical Physics	Rank 502
69	23,250	LK Lee, Kuen Yong	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 197
70	23,437	RJ Roh, Jong Lyel	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 1,048
71	23,675	KJ Koh, Jae Young	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 1,835
72	24,010	SB Sarkar, Biswajit	Yonsei University	Operations Research	Rank 69
73	24,118	BP Blumberg, Peter M.	Seoul National University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 70
74	24,326	LY Lee, Young Ho	Korea University College of Medicine	Arthritis & Rheumatology	Rank 189
75	24,817	PS Park, Seung Jung	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 1,018
76	24,820	YY Yi, Youjae	Seoul National University	Marketing	Rank 51
77	24,883	CJ Choy, Jin Ho	Dankook University	Applied Physics	Rank 604
78	24,920	CS Cho, Sung Bae	Yonsei University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 509
79	25,487	KK Koh, Kwang Kon	Gachon University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 1,052
80	25,528	KB Kim, Byung Kyu	Pusan National University	Polymers	Rank 218
81	26,026	LJ Lee, Jun Yeob	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 629
82	26,299	LS Lee, Sung Gyu	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Surgery	Rank 191
83	26,595	YM Yoo, Man H.	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 324
84	26,899	LC Lee, Choong Ki	Kyung Hee University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 35
85	27,328	KV Kalia, Vipin C.	Konkuk University	Microbiology	Rank 676
86	27,832	SJ Szebeni, János	Sungkyunkwan University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 223
87	28,181	FS Flach, Sergej	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 226
88	28,427	KG Koh, Gou Young	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 1,233
89	28,495	KY Kim, Young Hoo	Seoul Metropolitan Government	Orthopedics	Rank 187
90	28,564	TA Timmermann, Axel	Pusan National University	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 401
91	29,416	KM Kashiwara, Masaki	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	General Mathematics	Rank 99
92	29,946	JC Jun, Chul Ho	Yonsei University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 569
93	29,962	KD Kim, Dae Hyeong	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 356
94	31,253	KG Kim, Geun Hyung	SKKU School of Medicine	Polymers	Rank 273
95	31,437	Lee, Seong Whan	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 663
96	31,700	YJ Yun, Jong Won	Daegu University	Biotechnology	Rank 77
97	32,462	KJ Kim, J. H.	Chungnam National University	Applied Physics	Rank 803
98	32,682	SM Suh, Myunghyun Paik	Seoul National University	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 182
99	32,722	LT Lee, Tae Woo	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 388
100	33,029	YS Yoo, Sung Jin	Chung-Ang University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 261
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2024

Switzerland3,431 scientistsin 2024

Sweden3,353 scientistsin 2024

India2,939 scientistsin 2024

Denmark2,114 scientistsin 2024

Israel2,093 scientistsin 2024

Belgium1,997 scientistsin 2024

Explore other countries

Career-long list2024

China10,689 scientistsin 2024

Japan8,261 scientistsin 2024

Taiwan1,759 scientistsin 2024

Hong Kong1,270 scientistsin 2024

Macau68 scientistsin 2024

Turkey1,172 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 career-long list, Seoul National University has the most listed scientists from South Korea, with 259. It is followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology with 162.

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 2,366 in 2024, a change of +75.3%.

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.