49 Best universities for Theoretical Physics in South Korea

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 600K citations received by 20.4K 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

#44 in Asia

#280 in the World

Enrollment: 10,249
Founded: 1971

3. Sogang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#59 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

#65 in Asia

#388 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

#411 in the World

Enrollment: 3,425
Founded: 1986

6. Hanyang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#80 in Asia

#422 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 1939

7. Yonsei University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#98 in Asia

#488 in the World

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

8. Sungkyunkwan University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#108 in Asia

#518 in the World

Founded: 1398

9. Ewha Womans University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#119 in Asia

#545 in the World

Enrollment: 24,680
Founded: 1886

10. Kyung Hee University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#126 in Asia

#571 in the World

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

11. Pusan National University

South Korea | Busan

For Theoretical Physics

#145 in Asia

#648 in the World

Enrollment: 27,780
Founded: 1946

12. Korea University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#156 in Asia

#682 in the World

Enrollment: 24,351
Founded: 1905

13. Inje University

South Korea | Gimhae

For Theoretical Physics

#193 in Asia

#787 in the World

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

14. Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology

South Korea | Eonyang

For Theoretical Physics

#211 in Asia

#829 in the World

Enrollment: 4,255
Founded: 2009

15. University of Seoul

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#213 in Asia

#831 in the World

Enrollment: 15,967
Founded: 1918

16. Sejong University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#227 in Asia

#858 in the World

Enrollment: 13,350
Founded: 1940

17. Kunsan National University

South Korea | Gunsan

For Theoretical Physics

#242 in Asia

#902 in the World

Enrollment: 7,715
Founded: 1979

18. Chonbuk National University

South Korea | Jeonju

For Theoretical Physics

#246 in Asia

#910 in the World

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

19. Gyeongsang National University

South Korea | Jinju

For Theoretical Physics

#252 in Asia

#924 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1948

20. Chung-Ang University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#274 in Asia

#974 in the World

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

21. Inha University

South Korea | Incheon

For Theoretical Physics

#295 in Asia

#1030 in the World

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

22. Konkuk University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#301 in Asia

#1047 in the World

Enrollment: 21,620
Founded: 1946

23. Chonnam National University

South Korea | Gwangju

For Theoretical Physics

#326 in Asia

#1099 in the World

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

24. Chungbuk National University

South Korea | Cheongju

For Theoretical Physics

#336 in Asia

#1124 in the World

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

25. Kangwon National University

South Korea | Chuncheon

For Theoretical Physics

#392 in Asia

#1268 in the World

Enrollment: 38,064
Founded: 1947

26. Chungnam National University

South Korea | Daejeon

For Theoretical Physics

#434 in Asia

#1361 in the World

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

27. Kyungnam University

South Korea | Masan

For Theoretical Physics

#473 in Asia

#1443 in the World

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

28. Dankook University

South Korea | Yongin

For Theoretical Physics

#477 in Asia

#1450 in the World

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

29. Dongguk University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#480 in Asia

#1457 in the World

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

30. Seoul National University of Science and Technology

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#485 in Asia

#1467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

31. Soongsil University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#494 in Asia

#1490 in the World

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

32. Ajou University

South Korea | Suwon

For Theoretical Physics

#506 in Asia

#1517 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1973

33. Kwangwoon University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#515 in Asia

#1535 in the World

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

34. Jeju National University

South Korea | Jeju

For Theoretical Physics

#563 in Asia

#1633 in the World

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

35. Hongik University

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#574 in Asia

#1656 in the World

Founded: 1946

36. University of Science and Technology Korea

South Korea | Daejeon

For Theoretical Physics

#584 in Asia

#1678 in the World

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

37. University of Ulsan

South Korea | Ulsan

For Theoretical Physics

#593 in Asia

#1690 in the World

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

38. Myongji University

South Korea | Yongin

For Theoretical Physics

#594 in Asia

#1691 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1948

39. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#596 in Asia

#1695 in the World

Enrollment: 21,240
Founded: 1954

40. Kyonggi University

South Korea | Suwon

For Theoretical Physics

#620 in Asia

#1736 in the World

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

41. Seoul National University of Education

South Korea | Seoul

For Theoretical Physics

#637 in Asia

#1772 in the World

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

42. Korea National University of Transportation

South Korea | Chungju

For Theoretical Physics

#682 in Asia

#1868 in the World

Enrollment: 13,400
Founded: 1962

43. Pukyong National University

South Korea | Busan

For Theoretical Physics

#770 in Asia

#2038 in the World

Enrollment: 28,100
Founded: 1924

44. Kongju National University

South Korea | Gongju

For Theoretical Physics

#794 in Asia

#2072 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 1948

45. University of Incheon

South Korea | Incheon

For Theoretical Physics

#800 in Asia

#2083 in the World

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

46. Daejin University

South Korea | Pocheon

For Theoretical Physics

#851 in Asia

#2168 in the World

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

47. Yeungnam University

South Korea | Gyeongsan

For Theoretical Physics

#859 in Asia

#2180 in the World

Enrollment: 21,000
Founded: 1947

48. Chosun University

South Korea | Gwangju

For Theoretical Physics

#886 in Asia

#2225 in the World

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

49. Daegu University

South Korea | Gyeongsan

For Theoretical Physics

#913 in Asia

#2265 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 Physics49

Astrobiology37

Astrophysics and Astronomy110

Atomic and Molecular physics71

Biophysics58

Condensed Matter Physics93

Optical Engineering130

Quantum and Particle physics142