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).
Scientists in South Korea on the list, by year
The career-long count has grown 94% since 2020.
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
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
| Rank in South Korea | World rank | Scientist | Institute | Sub-field | Rank in sub-field |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 501 | Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 21 | |
| 2 | 923 | Sungkyunkwan University | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 31 | |
| 3 | 970 | Seoul National University | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 32 | |
| 4 | 1,013 | Hanyang University | Energy | Rank 15 | |
| 5 | 1,068 | Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | Biotechnology | Rank 1 | |
| 6 | 1,259 | Yonsei University College of Medicine | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Rank 63 | |
| 7 | 1,559 | Ewha Womans University | Organic Chemistry | Rank 44 | |
| 8 | 1,723 | Seoul National University | Oncology & Carcinogenesis | Rank 72 | |
| 9 | 2,104 | Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 58 | |
| 10 | 2,131 |
KS
|
Hanyang University | Food Science | Rank 6 |
| 11 | 2,193 |
PJ
|
Yeungnam University | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 64 |
| 12 | 2,198 |
KK
|
Hanyang University | Environmental Sciences | Rank 9 |
| 13 | 2,516 | Kyung Hee University | Food Science | Rank 9 | |
| 14 | 2,739 |
HH
|
Sejong University | Sport, Leisure & Tourism | Rank 3 |
| 15 | 3,418 | Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Rank 21 | |
| 16 | 3,865 | Korea Institute of Energy Technology | Physical Chemistry | Rank 17 | |
| 17 | 4,042 | Seoul National University | Developmental Biology | Rank 206 | |
| 18 | 5,181 | Seoul National University | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 102 | |
| 19 | 6,031 |
KK
|
Pohang University of Science and Technology | Organic Chemistry | Rank 136 |
| 20 | 6,098 |
SL
|
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources | Geological & Geomatics Engineering | Rank 15 |
| 21 | 6,557 | Kyung Hee University | Polymers | Rank 50 | |
| 22 | 6,594 | Gyeongsang National University | Agronomy & Agriculture | Rank 25 | |
| 23 | 6,763 |
NW
|
Ewha Womans University | General Chemistry | Rank 48 |
| 24 | 6,851 | Seoul National University College of Medicine | Oncology & Carcinogenesis | Rank 296 | |
| 25 | 7,512 | University of Ulsan College of Medicine | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 630 | |
| 26 | 7,650 |
RR
|
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | Physical Chemistry | Rank 32 |
| 27 | 7,773 | Seoul National University | Optics | Rank 38 | |
| 28 | 8,259 | Ewha Womans University | Organic Chemistry | Rank 170 | |
| 29 | 8,331 | Institute of Resilient Systems + | Human Factors | Rank 9 | |
| 30 | 8,688 | Kyung Hee University | International Relations | Rank 3 | |
| 31 | 8,690 | Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology | Physical Chemistry | Rank 37 | |
| 32 | 8,703 | Gachon University | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 198 | |
| 33 | 8,707 | Korea University | Materials | Rank 103 | |
| 34 | 8,884 | Pohang University of Science and Technology | Materials | Rank 108 | |
| 35 | 9,591 | Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology | Chemical Physics | Rank 223 | |
| 36 | 10,063 | KyungHee University College of Medicine | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Rank 59 | |
| 37 | 10,260 | Ewha Womans University | Civil Engineering | Rank 13 | |
| 38 | 10,642 | Sungkyunkwan University | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 863 | |
| 39 | 10,896 | Inter-University Semiconductor Research Center | Applied Physics | Rank 264 | |
| 40 | 12,131 | Pohang University of Science and Technology | Materials | Rank 146 | |
| 41 | 12,230 |
KH
|
Dankook University | Biomedical Engineering | Rank 48 |
| 42 | 12,551 | Yonsei University College of Medicine | Oncology & Carcinogenesis | Rank 543 | |
| 43 | 13,217 |
KJ
|
Seoul National University | Nuclear & Particle Physics | Rank 176 |
| 44 | 13,594 | Handong Global University | Microbiology | Rank 328 | |
| 45 | 14,043 | Korea Institute for Advanced Study | Nuclear & Particle Physics | Rank 186 | |
| 46 | 14,112 | IBS Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis (CARS) | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 215 | |
| 47 | 14,125 |
SS
|
Seoul National University | Electrical & Electronic Engineering | Rank 39 |
| 48 | 14,251 | Hanyang University | Polymers | Rank 111 | |
| 49 | 14,340 | Korea University | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 311 | |
| 50 | 14,500 | Korea University | Chemical Physics | Rank 335 | |
| 51 | 14,669 | Korea University | Food Science | Rank 64 | |
| 52 | 16,077 | Kwangwoon University | General Mathematics | Rank 43 | |
| 53 | 16,400 |
SH
|
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | Acoustics | Rank 24 |
| 54 | 17,461 |
LH
|
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 262 |
| 55 | 17,763 | Pohang University of Science and Technology | Materials | Rank 226 | |
| 56 | 18,341 | Pohang University of Science and Technology | Materials | Rank 231 | |
| 57 | 18,459 | Dong-Eui University | Oncology & Carcinogenesis | Rank 808 | |
| 58 | 18,483 | University of Ulsan | Applied Physics | Rank 435 | |
| 59 | 18,666 | Pusan National University | Civil Engineering | Rank 30 | |
| 60 | 19,287 | Kyung Hee University | Plant Biology & Botany | Rank 201 | |
| 61 | 19,439 | Seoul National University | Applied Physics | Rank 451 | |
| 62 | 19,526 | Yonsei University | Operations Research | Rank 50 | |
| 63 | 20,476 | Chung-Ang University Hospital | Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging | Rank 94 | |
| 64 | 20,646 | CHA University | Oncology & Carcinogenesis | Rank 907 | |
| 65 | 20,977 |
JS
|
Yeungnam University | Chemical Physics | Rank 472 |
| 66 | 21,150 | Korea University Medicine | Arthritis & Rheumatology | Rank 168 | |
| 67 | 21,393 | Pohang University of Science and Technology | Industrial Engineering & Automation | Rank 149 | |
| 68 | 22,786 |
KK
|
The National Academy of Engineering of Korea | Applied Physics | Rank 540 |
| 69 | 23,446 | Hanyang University | Polymers | Rank 194 | |
| 70 | 23,651 |
YY
|
Seoul National University | Marketing | Rank 51 |
| 71 | 24,330 | Yonsei University | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 525 | |
| 72 | 24,573 | Kyung Hee University | Sport, Leisure & Tourism | Rank 33 | |
| 73 | 24,772 | Konkuk University | Microbiology | Rank 626 | |
| 74 | 24,895 |
LJ
|
Sungkyunkwan University | Applied Physics | Rank 587 |
| 75 | 24,899 | University of Ulsan College of Medicine | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 1,878 | |
| 76 | 25,012 | College of Pharmacy | Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry | Rank 73 | |
| 77 | 25,649 |
CJ
|
Dankook University | Applied Physics | Rank 606 |
| 78 | 25,957 | University of Ulsan College of Medicine | Surgery | Rank 184 | |
| 79 | 26,242 | Gachon University | Cardiovascular System & Hematology | Rank 1,065 | |
| 80 | 26,252 | Pusan National University | Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences | Rank 360 | |
| 81 | 26,345 | Asan Medical Center | Cardiovascular System & Hematology | Rank 1,073 | |
| 82 | 26,369 | Seoul National University | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 359 | |
| 83 | 26,936 | Pusan National University | Polymers | Rank 228 | |
| 84 | 26,986 | Sungkyunkwan University | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Rank 212 | |
| 85 | 27,798 | Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Rank 1,169 | |
| 86 | 27,826 | Korea University | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 606 | |
| 87 | 27,863 | Korea University | Environmental Sciences | Rank 179 | |
| 88 | 28,736 | SKKU School of Medicine | Polymers | Rank 242 | |
| 89 | 28,790 | Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon | Fluids & Plasmas | Rank 228 | |
| 90 | 28,860 | Seoul Metropolitan Government | Orthopedics | Rank 183 | |
| 91 | 29,965 | Chung-Ang University | Industrial Engineering & Automation | Rank 241 | |
| 92 | 30,073 |
LT
|
Seoul National University | Nanoscience & Nanotechnology | Rank 406 |
| 93 | 30,127 |
CJ
|
Korea Basic Science Institute | Organic Chemistry | Rank 579 |
| 94 | 30,417 | Chungnam National University, College of Medicine | Microbiology | Rank 777 | |
| 95 | 30,455 | Korea Institute for Advanced Study | General Physics | Rank 175 | |
| 96 | 30,792 | Woosong University | Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing | Rank 682 | |
| 97 | 31,377 |
YJ
|
Daegu University | Biotechnology | Rank 80 |
| 98 | 31,570 | SKKU School of Medicine | Neurology & Neurosurgery | Rank 2,290 | |
| 99 | 31,629 |
KJ
|
Seoul National University | Developmental Biology | Rank 1,121 |
| 100 | 31,708 | Kyungpook National University (KNU) | Chemical Engineering | Rank 122 | |
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See all 2,620 scientists in South Korea
You are seeing the first 100. 2,520 more are on the 2025 career-long list.
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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.