South Korea's Top 2% Scientists 2025: Career-Long List

South Korea has 2,620 scientists on the 2025 career-long Top 2% list, up 10.7% from 2,366 in 2024. That places South Korea 15th in the world by number of listed scientists. Seoul National University has the most listed scientists (213), followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (195).

Single Year

3,695

+197 (+5.6%) vs 2024

Career Data

2,620

+254 (+10.7%) vs 2024

World rank by count

#15

No change vs 2024

Institutes

316

+97 (+44.3%) vs 2024

Scientists in South Korea on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 94% 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 list2025

Show the list

1Seoul National University213
2Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology195
3Korea University116
4Yonsei University109
5Pohang University of Science and Technology98
6Sungkyunkwan University96
7Hanyang University74
8Kyungpook National University (KNU)55
9Inha University49
10Kyung Hee University49

All 2,620 scientists

Career-long list2025

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	501	RR Ruoff, Rodney S.	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 21
2	923	PN Park, Nam-gyu	Sungkyunkwan University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 31
3	970	HT Hyeon, Taeghwan	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 32
4	1,013	SY Sun, Yang-kook	Hanyang University	Energy	Rank 15
5	1,068	LS Lee, Sang Yup	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biotechnology	Rank 1
6	1,259	RS Rhee, Sue Goo	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 63
7	1,559	FS Fukuzumi, Shunichi	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 44
8	1,723	SY Surh, Young Joon	Seoul National University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 72
9	2,104	CJ Cho, Jaephil P.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 58
10	2,131	KS Kim, Se-kwon	Hanyang University	Food Science	Rank 6
11	2,193	PJ Park, Juhyun	Yeungnam University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 64
12	2,198	KK Kim, Ki Hyun	Hanyang University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 9
13	2,516	RJ Rhim, Jong-whan	Kyung Hee University	Food Science	Rank 9
14	2,739	HH Han, Heesup	Sejong University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 3
15	3,418	PT Park, Taegwan	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 21
16	3,865	CW Choi, Wonyong Yong	Korea Institute of Energy Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 17
17	4,042	KV Kim, V. Narry	Seoul National University	Developmental Biology	Rank 206
18	5,181	JJ Jang, Jyongsik	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 102
19	6,031	KK Kim, Kimoon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Organic Chemistry	Rank 136
20	6,098	SL Saro, Lee M.	Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 15
21	6,557	PS Park, Soo-jin	Kyung Hee University	Polymers	Rank 50
22	6,594	TB Turner, Benjamin L.	Gyeongsang National University	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 25
23	6,763	NW Nam, Wonwoo	Ewha Womans University	General Chemistry	Rank 48
24	6,851	BY Bang, Yung–Jue	Seoul National University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 296
25	7,512	KJ Kim, Jong-sung	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 630
26	7,650	RR Ryoo, Ryong	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 32
27	7,773	LB Lee, Byoungho	Seoul National University	Optics	Rank 38
28	8,259	YJ Yoon, Juyoung	Ewha Womans University	Organic Chemistry	Rank 170
29	8,331	HE Hollnagel, Erik	Institute of Resilient Systems +	Human Factors	Rank 9
30	8,688	IG Ikenberry, G. John	Kyung Hee University	International Relations	Rank 3
31	8,690	LJ Lee, Jae Sung	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Physical Chemistry	Rank 37
32	8,703	GZ Geem, Zong Woo	Gachon University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 198
33	8,707	LJ Lee, Jong-heun	Korea University	Materials	Rank 103
34	8,884	KH Kim, Hyoung-seop	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 108
35	9,591	KK Kim, Kwang S.	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology	Chemical Physics	Rank 223
36	10,063	KD Kim, Dong Hyun	KyungHee University College of Medicine	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 59
37	10,260	KV Kodur, Venkatesh K.R.	Ewha Womans University	Civil Engineering	Rank 13
38	10,642	KS Kim, Seong Gi	Sungkyunkwan University	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 863
39	10,896	HC Hwang, Cheolseong	Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center	Applied Physics	Rank 264
40	12,131	DC De Cooman, Bruno Charles De	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 146
41	12,230	KH Kim, Hae-won	Dankook University	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 48
42	12,551	PS Paik, Soonmyung	Yonsei University College of Medicine	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 543
43	13,217	KJ Kim, Jihn E.	Seoul National University	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 176
44	13,594	HW Holzapfel, Wilhelm Heinrich	Handong Global University	Microbiology	Rank 328
45	14,043	MV Mukhanov, Viatcheslav F.	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 186
46	14,112	GB Grzybowski, Bartosz A.	IBS Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis (CARS)	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 215
47	14,125	SS Sul, Seungki	Seoul National University	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 39
48	14,251	LY Lee, Young-moo Moon	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 111
49	14,340	AC Ahn, Choon Ki	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 311
50	14,500	CM Cho, Minhaeng	Korea University	Chemical Physics	Rank 335
51	14,669	PH Park, Hyun Jin	Korea University	Food Science	Rank 64
52	16,077	KT Kim, Taekyun Gyun	Kwangwoon University	General Mathematics	Rank 43
53	16,400	SH Sohn, Hoon	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Acoustics	Rank 24
54	17,461	LH Lee, Haeshin	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 262
55	17,763	BL Byeong-Joo Lee, Byeong-joo	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 226
56	18,341	BF Barlat, Frederic Gérard	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Materials	Rank 231
57	18,459	CY Choi, Young-hyun	Dong-Eui University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 808
58	18,483	SG Samara, Georges A.	University of Ulsan	Applied Physics	Rank 435
59	18,666	PJ Paik, Jeom-kee Kee	Pusan National University	Civil Engineering	Rank 30
60	19,287	AG An, Gyeunhung Heung	Kyung Hee University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 201
61	19,439	LC Lee, Changhoon O.	Seoul National University	Applied Physics	Rank 451
62	19,526	SB Sarkar, Biswajit	Yonsei University	Operations Research	Rank 50
63	20,476	CB Choi, Byung Ihn	Chung-Ang University Hospital	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	Rank 94
64	20,646	RJ Roh, Jong–Lyel	CHA University	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 907
65	20,977	JS Joo, Sangwoo	Yeungnam University	Chemical Physics	Rank 472
66	21,150	LY Lee, Young Ho	Korea University Medicine	Arthritis & Rheumatology	Rank 168
67	21,393	PP Park, Poo-gyeon	Pohang University of Science and Technology	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 149
68	22,786	KK Kim, Kinam	The National Academy of Engineering of Korea	Applied Physics	Rank 540
69	23,446	LK Lee, KuenYong	Hanyang University	Polymers	Rank 194
70	23,651	YY Yi, Youjae	Seoul National University	Marketing	Rank 51
71	24,330	CS Cho, Sung Bae	Yonsei University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 525
72	24,573	LC Lee, Choong-ki	Kyung Hee University	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 33
73	24,772	KV Kalia, Vipin Chandra	Konkuk University	Microbiology	Rank 626
74	24,895	LJ Lee, Junyeob	Sungkyunkwan University	Applied Physics	Rank 587
75	24,899	KJ Koh, Jae-Young	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 1,878
76	25,012	BP Blumberg, Peter M.	College of Pharmacy	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 73
77	25,649	CJ Choy, Jin-Ho	Dankook University	Applied Physics	Rank 606
78	25,957	LS Lee, Seunggyu Gyue	University of Ulsan College of Medicine	Surgery	Rank 184
79	26,242	KK Koh, Kwang-kon	Gachon University	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 1,065
80	26,252	TA Timmermann, Axel	Pusan National University	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 360
81	26,345	PS Park, Seung-jung	Asan Medical Center	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	Rank 1,073
82	26,369	KD Kim, Dae-Hyeong	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 359
83	26,936	KB Kim, Byeong Kyu	Pusan National University	Polymers	Rank 228
84	26,986	SJ Szebeni, János	Sungkyunkwan University	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 212
85	27,798	KG Koh, Gou-Young	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 1,169
86	27,826	Lee, Seong Whan	Korea University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 606
87	27,863	Ok, Yong Sik	Korea University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 179
88	28,736	KG Kim, Geunhyung Hyeong	SKKU School of Medicine	Polymers	Rank 242
89	28,790	FS Flach, Sergej	Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 228
90	28,860	KY Kim, Young-hoo	Seoul Metropolitan Government	Orthopedics	Rank 183
91	29,965	YS Yoo, Sung-jin	Chung-Ang University	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 241
92	30,073	LT Lee, Taewoo	Seoul National University	Nanoscience & Nanotechnology	Rank 406
93	30,127	CJ Chul-Ho, Jun	Korea Basic Science Institute	Organic Chemistry	Rank 579
94	30,417	JE Jo, Eun-kyeong	Chungnam National University, College of Medicine	Microbiology	Rank 777
95	30,455	KM Kim, Myungshik	Korea Institute for Advanced Study	General Physics	Rank 175
96	30,792	SS Salkuti, Surender Reddy	Woosong University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 682
97	31,377	YJ Yun, Jongwon	Daegu University	Biotechnology	Rank 80
98	31,570	BO Bang, Oh-young	SKKU School of Medicine	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 2,290
99	31,629	KJ Kim, Jinsoo	Seoul National University	Developmental Biology	Rank 1,121
100	31,708	JS Jhung, Sung Hwa	Kyungpook National University (KNU)	Chemical Engineering	Rank 122
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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2025

Switzerland3,659 scientists

Sweden3,471 scientists

India3,371 scientists

Denmark2,207 scientists

Israel2,204 scientists

Belgium2,188 scientists

Explore other countries

Career-long list2025

China12,375 scientists

Japan8,730 scientists

Taiwan1,898 scientists

Hong Kong1,482 scientists

Macau111 scientists

Turkey1,308 scientists

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from South Korea are in the 2025 Stanford Top 2% list?

3,695 scientists affiliated with South Korea are on the 2025 single-year list, and 2,620 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2025 career-long list, Seoul National University has the most listed scientists from South Korea, with 213. It is followed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology with 195.

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 2,620 in 2025, a change of +94.1%.

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.