46 Best universities for Theoretical Physics in South Korea

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 292K citations received by 16K academic papers made by 46 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

#120 in the World

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

2. KAIST

South Korea | Daejeon

For Theoretical Physics

#43 in Asia

#283 in the World

Enrollment: 10,249
Founded: 1971

3. Sogang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#57 in Asia

#352 in the World

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

4. Pohang University of Science and Technology

South Korea | Pohang

For Theoretical Physics

#68 in Asia

#388 in the World

Enrollment: 3,425
Founded: 1986

5. Kyungpook National University

South Korea | Daegu

For Theoretical Physics

#70 in Asia

#392 in the World

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

6. Hanyang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#82 in Asia

#435 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 1939

7. Yonsei University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#93 in Asia

#476 in the World

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

8. Sungkyunkwan University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#104 in Asia

#499 in the World

Founded: 1398

9. Ewha Womans University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#127 in Asia

#568 in the World

Enrollment: 22,268
Founded: 1886

10. Kyung Hee University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#133 in Asia

#585 in the World

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

11. Pusan National University

South Korea | Busan

For Theoretical Physics

#146 in Asia

#641 in the World

Enrollment: 27,780
Founded: 1946

12. Korea University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#154 in Asia

#667 in the World

Enrollment: 24,351
Founded: 1905

13. Inje University

South Korea | Gimhae

For Theoretical Physics

#177 in Asia

#741 in the World

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

14. University of Seoul

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#200 in Asia

#793 in the World

Enrollment: 15,967
Founded: 1918

15. Chonbuk National University

South Korea | Jeonju

For Theoretical Physics

#222 in Asia

#839 in the World

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

16. Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology

South Korea | Eonyang

For Theoretical Physics

#229 in Asia

#856 in the World

Enrollment: 4,255
Founded: 2009

17. Kunsan National University

South Korea | Gunsan

For Theoretical Physics

#231 in Asia

#861 in the World

Enrollment: 7,715
Founded: 1979

18. Sejong University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#237 in Asia

#873 in the World

Enrollment: 13,350
Founded: 1940

19. Gyeongsang National University

South Korea | Jinju

For Theoretical Physics

#247 in Asia

#908 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1948

20. Chung-Ang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#278 in Asia

#993 in the World

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

21. Konkuk University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#291 in Asia

#1015 in the World

Enrollment: 21,620
Founded: 1946

22. Inha University

South Korea | Incheon

For Theoretical Physics

#292 in Asia

#1019 in the World

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

23. Chungbuk National University

South Korea | Cheongju

For Theoretical Physics

#355 in Asia

#1191 in the World

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

24. Kangwon National University

South Korea | Chuncheon

For Theoretical Physics

#356 in Asia

#1192 in the World

Enrollment: 38,064
Founded: 1947

25. Chonnam National University

South Korea | Gwangju

For Theoretical Physics

#361 in Asia

#1205 in the World

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

26. Kyungnam University

South Korea | Masan

For Theoretical Physics

#416 in Asia

#1325 in the World

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

27. Chungnam National University

South Korea | Daejeon

For Theoretical Physics

#421 in Asia

#1338 in the World

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

28. Soongsil University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#442 in Asia

#1385 in the World

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

29. Dankook University

South Korea | Yongin

For Theoretical Physics

#479 in Asia

#1463 in the World

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

30. Seoul National University of Science and Technology

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#484 in Asia

#1472 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

31. Kwangwoon University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#489 in Asia

#1478 in the World

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

32. Seoul National University of Education

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#510 in Asia

#1532 in the World

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

33. Jeju National University

South Korea | Jeju

For Theoretical Physics

#515 in Asia

#1542 in the World

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

34. Ajou University

South Korea | Suwon

For Theoretical Physics

#522 in Asia

#1555 in the World

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

35. Kyonggi University

South Korea | Suwon

For Theoretical Physics

#566 in Asia

#1631 in the World

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

36. Dongguk University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#572 in Asia

#1640 in the World

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

37. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#591 in Asia

#1673 in the World

Enrollment: 21,240
Founded: 1954

38. Myongji University

South Korea | Yongin

For Theoretical Physics

#601 in Asia

#1696 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1948

39. University of Science and Technology Korea

South Korea | Daejeon

For Theoretical Physics

#608 in Asia

#1716 in the World

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

40. University of Ulsan

South Korea | Ulsan

For Theoretical Physics

#609 in Asia

#1718 in the World

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

41. Kongju National University

South Korea | Gongju

For Theoretical Physics

#648 in Asia

#1795 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 1948

42. Hongik University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#651 in Asia

#1800 in the World

Founded: 1946

43. Korea National University of Transportation

South Korea | Chungju

For Theoretical Physics

#685 in Asia

#1859 in the World

Enrollment: 13,400
Founded: 1962

44. University of Incheon

South Korea | Incheon

For Theoretical Physics

#756 in Asia

#1988 in the World

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

45. Pukyong National University

South Korea | Busan

For Theoretical Physics

#778 in Asia

#2022 in the World

Enrollment: 28,100
Founded: 1924

46. Chosun University

South Korea | Gwangju

For Theoretical Physics

#816 in Asia

#2082 in the World

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

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

Physics subfields in South Korea

Acoustical Engineering108

Applied/Engineering Physics40

Astrobiology33

Astrophysics and Astronomy104

Atomic and Molecular physics67

Biophysics54

Condensed Matter Physics92

Optical Engineering127

Quantum and Particle physics141