Five Korean universities make top 100 of QS World University Rankings

Five Korean universities made it onto the top 100 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2025, with more room for Korean universities to score higher if they go global.

Seoul University's emblem is engraved in front of the university's main gate in Gwanak District, southern Seoul. The university was the highest ranking Korean university in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, placing 31st. [NEWS1]

Five Korean universities made it onto the top 100 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2025, with more room for Korean universities to score higher if they go global.

Seoul National University again solidified its title as the highest-ranking Korean university at 31st, according to the 2025 QS World University Rankings released Tuesday. The university ranked 41st the previous year.

Quacquarelli Symonds has been publishing the rankings since 2004, with this year's featuring 1,500 institutions around the world.

The ranking takes nine indicators into consideration, which are: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty, international student, sustainability, employment outcomes and international research network.

KAIST was the second-highest Korean university on the list by ranking 53rd, edging up from its previous year's placement of 56th.

Yonsei University placed 56th, jumping from last year's placement of 76th.

"We plan to strengthen international partnerships to globally elevate our academic presence, helping nurture future leaders that exert positive influence by challenging norms," said Yonsei University President Yoon Dong-sup. "We will enhance our research competitiveness through innovative interdisciplinary research."

Korea University ranked 67th, up from the previous year's 79th place.

Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech) ranked 98th, slightly up from 100th place last year.

Seoul National University, KAIST, Yonsei University, Korea University and Postech were the only five Korean universities to make it to the top 100 world university rankings, which is the same as last year.

Sungkyunkwan University was the sixth highest-ranking Korean university at 123rd place, up from 145th place last year. Hanyang University ranked 162nd, up from 164th last year.

Apart from KAIST and Postech, other science and tech universities' rankings fell this year.

Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology slipped to 280th, compared to the previous year's placement at 266th. Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology ranked 326th, compared to last year's 307th place. Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology ranked 359th, down from 328th place last year. Kyung Hee University ranked 328th, up from 332nd last year. Sejong University was the 12th highest-ranking Korean university, taking 396th. The university ranked 436th last year.

Chung-Ang University followed at 489th, up from last year's 494th place. Ewha Womans University slid to 511th, compared to 494th last year. Kyungpook National University rose to 516th, compared to 520th last year.

For the previous year, Pusan National University wasn't given a specific rank and was only assigned the 611 to 620th range, but placed 524th this year.

Sogang University was the last Korean university to make it to the top 500. However, the university placed at 576th, falling from last year's 509th place.

According to QS, Korean universities are one of Asia's best higher education systems, with good employer reputations and operate as well-known global research hubs.

However, one area it can improve is the international faculty and international student indicators.

"Korea's research influence shows the excellent academic standards and potential of Korea's top universities," said Ben Sowter, senior vice president of QS, in a statement. "As seen from employment outcome, Korean higher education receives significant recognition from overseas employers."

"Despite such outcomes, Korea is struggling in the global indicators, but has demonstrated sufficient potential for growth in attracting international talent."

For instance, no Korean universities ranked within the top 400 for the international faculty ratio indicator. Yeungnam University was the highest-ranking Korean university for the indicator, coming at 468th place.

The international student ratio was another that many universities fell behind in. Hanyang University was the highest-ranking Korean university for the indicator, coming at 257th place.

Sowter further stated that Korean universities should strengthen international partnerships, focus on the STEM fields and create more English-taught programs.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]