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Best Universities in South Korea: Rankings

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Best Universities in South Korea Rankings

I know it sounds cliche but there is no clear answer to what the best universities in South Korea are, or in the world for that matter. But, there are several categories and variables to evaluate the quality of universities and colleges, and certain tiers among universities do exist based on these factors: including not only academic factors but also social perception and alumni networks. Therefore, the rankings for the best universities in South Korea can be put in order.

There has been a general consensus among Koreans that the best universities in South Korea are SKY, the acronym for Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Korea University. These universities are still top universities in South Korea, but time has changed and many other universities have improved the quality of education. Also, there are several Korean universities that specialize in certain majors and areas of research on the global level.

Oh, by the way, now you know what SKY Castle, the title of the popular Kdrama, really means.


Top Universities in South Korea: Rankings

Prospective students can find more than a few of rankings for the best universities in South Korea on the internet. Here I select the rankings based on the publishers’ reputation, credibility, and transparency (and also how close to the perception among Koreans.)

Although these rankings are not the absolute standard for the quality of Korean universities, these would be a good starting point to find the right university for you. Also, if you find certain patterns among the rankings, it may say something: Seoul National University is the top university in South Korea in every ranking.

If you are reading this blog post on your phone, the following tables will look better when you hold your phone horizontally.


Best universities in South Korea 2023 by Times Higher Education

Korean RankWorld RankUniversityCity
156Seoul National UniversitySeoul
278Yonsei UniversitySeoul
391Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Daejeon
4163Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)Pohang
5170Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)Seoul
6174Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)Ulsan
7201–250Korea UniversitySeoul
8251–300Kyung Hee UniversitySeoul
8251–300Sejong UniversitySeoul
10401–500Hanyang UniversitySeoul
Source: Times Higher Education Website

If you want to find more details about this ranking, visit Times Higher Education’s page here.


QS World University Rankings 2023

Korean RankGlobal RankUniversityCity
129Seoul National University (SNU)Seoul
242Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Daejeon
371Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)Pohang
473Yonsei UniversitySeoul
574Korea UniversitySeoul
699Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)Seoul
7157Hanyang UniversitySeoul
8197Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST)Ulsan
9270Kyung Hee UniversitySeoul
10288Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST)Gwangju
11346Ewha Womans UniversitySeoul
12392Chung-Ang UniversitySeoul
13410Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS)Seoul
14457Sogang UniversitySeoul
15481Dongguk UniversitySeoul
16488Ajou UniversitySuwon
17494The Catholic University of KoreaBucheon
18501-510Kyungpook National UniversityDaegu
19531-540Inha UniversityIncheon
20551-560Jeonbuk National UniversityJeonju
21551-560Sejong UniversitySeoul
22561-570University of UlsanUlsan
23571-580Hallym UniversityChuncheon
24591-600Sungshin Women’s UniversitySeoul
25601-650Pusan National UniversityBusan
26651-700Konkuk UniversitySeoul
27751-800Chonnam National UniversityGwangju
28751-800Chungnam National UniversityDaejeon
29751-800Dankook UniversityYongin
30801-1000University of SeoulSeoul
source: Top Universities Website

Here are more details for the South Korea Universities by QS World University Rankings.


Best Universities in South Korea by U.S. News

South Korea University RankGlobal University RankUniversityCity
1129Seoul National University (SNU)Seoul
2263Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)Seoul
3282Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Daejeon
4290Korea UniversitySeoul
5292Yonsei UniversitySeoul
6360Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST)Ulsan
7397Sejong UniversitySeoul
8409Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)Pohang
9441Hanyang UniversitySeoul
10520Kyung Hee UniversitySeoul
11667Kyungpook National UniversityDaegu
12698Pusan National UniversityBusan
13710University of UlsanUlsan
14812University of SeoulSeoul
15844Chonnam National UniversityGwangju
16856Ewha Womans UniversitySeoul
17889Jeonbuk National UniversityJeonju
18912Yeungnam UniversityGyeongsan
19966Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST)Gwangju
201036Chung Ang UniversitySeoul
211046Dongguk UniversitySeoul
221049Konkuk UniversitySeoul
231116Ajou UniversitySuwon
241140Chungnam National UniversityDaejeon
251190The Catholic University of KoreaBucheon
261208Gyeongsang National UniversityJinju
271261Kangwon National UniversityChuncheon
281327Inha UniversityIncheon
291381Sogang UniversitySeoul
301386Gachon UniversitySeongnam
Source: U.S. News Website

You can see the full list of best South Korean Universities ranking on the U.S. News website.


2022 Joongang Ilbo South Korea University Ranking*

RankUniversityCity
1Seoul National University (SNU)Seoul
2Yonsei UniversitySeoul
3Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)Seoul
4Hanyang UniversitySeoul
5Korea UniversitySeoul
6Ewha Womans UniversitySeoul
7Konkuk UniversitySeoul
8Kyung Hee UniversitySeoul
9Dongguk UniversitySeoul
10Chung Ang UniversitySeoul
11University of SeoulSeoul
12Sogang UniversitySeoul
13Ajou UniversitySeoul
14Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS)Seoul
15Hanyang University (ERICA)Ansan
16Seoul National University of Science and Technology (Seoul TECH)Seoul
17Inha UniversityIncheon
18Kookmin UniversitySeoul
18Sejong UniversitySeoul
20Pusan National UniversityBusan
21Kyungpook National UniversityDaegu
21Incheon National UniversityIncheon
23Sookmyung Women’s UniversitySeoul
24Jeonbuk National UniversityJeonju
25Chonnam National UniversityGwangju
26Chungnam National UniversityDaejeon
27Gachon UniversitySeongnam
28Kwangwoon UniversitySeoul
28Soongsil UniversitySeoul
28Hongik UniversitySeoul
Source: Joongang Ilbo Article

*The list excluded POSTECH, KAIST, UNIST, GIST, and DGIST


  • Find the general information about studying in South Korea in my Study in Korea post.
  • Do you want to learn the Korean language? I have a list of interesting Korean expressions here.
  • If you need information about South Korea visa, visit this page for How to Apply for South Korea Visa.
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Filed Under: Learn in Korea, South Korea Universities Tagged With: #Best Universities in Korea, #Learn In Korea, #Study in Korea, #University in Korea, South Korea Universities Ranking

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