49 Best universities for Theoretical Physics in South Korea

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in South Korea ranked based on their research performance in Theoretical Physics. A graph of 566K citations received by 20K academic papers made by 49 universities in South Korea was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Seoul National University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#17 in Asia

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 28,378
Founded: 1946

2. KAIST

South Korea | Daejeon

For Theoretical Physics

#43 in Asia

#281 in the World

Enrollment: 10,249
Founded: 1971

3. Sogang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#58 in Asia

#356 in the World

Enrollment: 9,227
Male:Female: 55:45
Founded: 1960

4. Kyungpook National University

South Korea | Daegu

For Theoretical Physics

#63 in Asia

#381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 38,616
Founded: 1946

5. Pohang University of Science and Technology

South Korea | Pohang

For Theoretical Physics

#74 in Asia

#412 in the World

Enrollment: 3,425
Founded: 1986

6. Hanyang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#78 in Asia

#422 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 1939

7. Yonsei University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#101 in Asia

#497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 29,502
Founded: 1957

8. Sungkyunkwan University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#108 in Asia

#520 in the World

Founded: 1398

9. Ewha Womans University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#118 in Asia

#545 in the World

Enrollment: 24,680
Founded: 1886

10. Kyung Hee University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#125 in Asia

#572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 35,826
Founded: 1949

11. Pusan National University

South Korea | Busan

For Theoretical Physics

#145 in Asia

#654 in the World

Enrollment: 27,780
Founded: 1946

12. Korea University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#155 in Asia

#691 in the World

Enrollment: 24,351
Founded: 1905

13. Inje University

South Korea | Gimhae

For Theoretical Physics

#186 in Asia

#778 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,641
Founded: 1979

14. University of Seoul

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#206 in Asia

#819 in the World

Enrollment: 15,967
Founded: 1918

15. Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology

South Korea | Eonyang

For Theoretical Physics

#219 in Asia

#847 in the World

Enrollment: 4,255
Founded: 2009

16. Sejong University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#227 in Asia

#859 in the World

Enrollment: 13,350
Founded: 1940

17. Kunsan National University

South Korea | Gunsan

For Theoretical Physics

#238 in Asia

#895 in the World

Enrollment: 7,715
Founded: 1979

18. Chonbuk National University

South Korea | Jeonju

For Theoretical Physics

#241 in Asia

#903 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 32,300
Founded: 1947

19. Gyeongsang National University

South Korea | Jinju

For Theoretical Physics

#250 in Asia

#919 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1948

20. Chung-Ang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#277 in Asia

#986 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 28,221
Founded: 1918

21. Konkuk University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#293 in Asia

#1030 in the World

Enrollment: 21,620
Founded: 1946

22. Inha University

South Korea | Incheon

For Theoretical Physics

#294 in Asia

#1031 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Enrollment: 20,613
Founded: 1954

23. Chonnam National University

South Korea | Gwangju

For Theoretical Physics

#324 in Asia

#1104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 33,195
Founded: 1909

24. Chungbuk National University

South Korea | Cheongju

For Theoretical Physics

#328 in Asia

#1111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 24,300
Founded: 1951

25. Kangwon National University

South Korea | Chuncheon

For Theoretical Physics

#381 in Asia

#1248 in the World

Enrollment: 38,064
Founded: 1947

26. Chungnam National University

South Korea | Daejeon

For Theoretical Physics

#427 in Asia

#1352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1952

27. Kyungnam University

South Korea | Masan

For Theoretical Physics

#463 in Asia

#1434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1946

28. Dankook University

South Korea | Yongin

For Theoretical Physics

#467 in Asia

#1445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 28,654
Founded: 1947

29. Seoul National University of Science and Technology

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#470 in Asia

#1451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

30. Soongsil University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#482 in Asia

#1476 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,000
Founded: 1897

31. Dongguk University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#492 in Asia

#1494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,204
Founded: 1906

32. Ajou University

South Korea | Suwon

For Theoretical Physics

#503 in Asia

#1521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 14,328
Founded: 1973

33. Kwangwoon University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#511 in Asia

#1536 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 9,807
Founded: 1934

34. Jeju National University

South Korea | Jeju

For Theoretical Physics

#558 in Asia

#1635 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 12,200
Founded: 1952

35. Hongik University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#562 in Asia

#1643 in the World

Founded: 1946

36. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#571 in Asia

#1663 in the World

Enrollment: 21,240
Founded: 1954

37. University of Ulsan

South Korea | Ulsan

For Theoretical Physics

#582 in Asia

#1679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1970

38. Myongji University

South Korea | Yongin

For Theoretical Physics

#588 in Asia

#1687 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1948

39. University of Science and Technology Korea

South Korea | Daejeon

For Theoretical Physics

#595 in Asia

#1696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 1,292
Founded: 2003

40. Kyonggi University

South Korea | Suwon

For Theoretical Physics

#602 in Asia

#1712 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 16,400
Founded: 1947

41. Seoul National University of Education

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#616 in Asia

#1744 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 3,420
Founded: 1946

42. Korea National University of Transportation

South Korea | Chungju

For Theoretical Physics

#668 in Asia

#1851 in the World

Enrollment: 13,400
Founded: 1962

43. Kongju National University

South Korea | Gongju

For Theoretical Physics

#775 in Asia

#2045 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 1948

44. Pukyong National University

South Korea | Busan

For Theoretical Physics

#776 in Asia

#2046 in the World

Enrollment: 28,100
Founded: 1924

45. University of Incheon

South Korea | Incheon

For Theoretical Physics

#796 in Asia

#2080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 13,822
Founded: 1988

46. Daejin University

South Korea | Pocheon

For Theoretical Physics

#833 in Asia

#2138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1992

47. Yeungnam University

South Korea | Gyeongsan

For Theoretical Physics

#858 in Asia

#2188 in the World

Enrollment: 21,000
Founded: 1947

48. Chosun University

South Korea | Gwangju

For Theoretical Physics

#869 in Asia

#2203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 23,000
Founded: 1946

49. Daegu University

South Korea | Gyeongsan

For Theoretical Physics

#900 in Asia

#2248 in the World

Enrollment: 19,593
Founded: 1956

The best cities to study Theoretical Physics in South Korea based on the number of universities and their ranks are Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Pohang.

Physics subfields in South Korea

Acoustical Engineering113

Applied/Engineering Physics48

Astrobiology36

Astrophysics and Astronomy110

Atomic and Molecular physics72

Biophysics56

Condensed Matter Physics93

Optical Engineering130

Quantum and Particle physics142