Kyung Hee University ranks 252nd globally and 5th in Korea in the 2026 THE World University Rankings. Driven by outstanding research quality and global engagement, the University cements its status among top universities in South Korea.

Seoul, South Korea, 6th Jan 2026 – Kyung Hee University has been named 252nd worldwide and 5th among comprehensive universities in South Korea in the 2026 THE World University Rankings released by Times Higher Education (THE). This achievement marks a significant rise of 33 places globally and a one-spot climb domestically from the previous year. As the University demonstrates consistent growth across all major performance indicators, it continues to solidify its position as one of the top universities in South Korea, driven by a commitment to becoming a “true university of the future” that contributes to society through academic excellence.

This year’s ranking surge was largely propelled by a marked improvement in research quality and quantity. The University’s Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI), a key global metric of research influence, rose from 1.37 in 2019 to 1.42 in 2024, indicating that papers published by Kyung Hee are cited 42% more often than the global average. The quality of top-tier research also saw significant gains; the citation impact of papers in the top 25% increased to 1.54, ranking the University third in Korea. In parallel with qualitative growth, the volume of research output has expanded, with the number of academic articles evaluated by THE growing steadily to 20,934 in 2024. Notably, the proportion of papers ranked in the top 10% for citation impact reached 14.2%, further attesting to the University’s rising global influence.

These research achievements span a diverse range of disciplines, including Medicine, Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Basic Sciences. In the medical field, researchers achieved world-class results in global disease epidemiology, digital health, oncology, and geriatrics. Concurrently, the engineering and applied science sectors made significant strides in next-generation semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, robotics, and environmental monitoring. This broad spectrum of success is underpinned by strong basic science research in biology and ecology, which creates a robust ecosystem supporting innovation from fundamental principles to real-world applications.

A decisive factor in this sustained growth is Kyung Hee’s long-standing philosophy of internationalization. Ranked second in Korea for global engagement, the University has seen its proportion of international collaborative research projects rise to 38.1%, with these joint efforts achieving an exceptional average FWCI of 2.63. This commitment to global cooperation is exemplified by the recently opened International Center for Quantum Matter. Established following the selection for the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Limit Challenge R&D Project, the Center features collaboration with renowned scholars, including Nobel Laureate Konstantin Novoselov and Harvard Professor Philip Kim. Furthermore, the Center for Digital Health continues to deliver world-class results through partnerships with the University of Washington’s IHME and the Gates Foundation.

Looking ahead, Kyung Hee University is preparing for a “quantum leap” to close the gap with the global elite by designating the next few years as a “golden time” for transformation. To lead higher education in the era of AI Transition (AX), the University has established the Kyung Hee AI Committee to oversee AI governance and the Institute of Institutional Research (IR) to provide data-driven strategic insights. Additionally, the University was recently selected for the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s “2025 Medical AI Specialized Convergence Talent Development Project,” securing significant funding to cultivate globally competitive talent. Through these comprehensive efforts in research innovation and future-ready infrastructure, Kyung Hee remains steadfast in its mission to creating public value and reinforcing its standing among the top universities in South Korea.

Media Contact

Organization: KyungHee University

Contact Person: BOB KIM

Website: https://www.khu.ac.kr/eng/user/contents/view.do?menuNo=300071

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Contact Number: +8229610127

Address:7-13, Kyungheedae-ro 6-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

City: 7-13, Kyungheedae-ro 6-gil, Dongdaemun-gu

State: seoul

Country:South Korea

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