Kyung Hee University has reinforced its position as one of the top universities in South Korea, securing the fifth place among comprehensive universities in the country and reaching 252nd globally in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. The university’s 33-place improvement from the previous year marks a milestone in its trajectory of academic excellence, global recognition, and institutional innovation.
In addition, the university also achieved 39th in Asia and fifth among private universities in South Korea in the 2026 QS Asia University Rankings. Being recognized by both THE and QS reflects not only international credibility but also Kyung Hee’s long-term strategic execution and performance-oriented approach.
This achievement is based on significant progress across various performance metrics. Notably, the university's Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI), a key indicator of research influence, rose from 1.37 in 2019 to 1.42 in 2024. This means Kyung Hee’s research output is cited 42% more often than the global average. Within the top 25% of most-cited papers, the FWCI increased even further, from 1.36 to 1.54 over the same period, placing Kyung Hee third among Korean universities in this elite citation category.
The total volume of published academic papers also increased sharply, from 16,023 in 2019 to 20,934 in 2024. Alongside this quantitative growth, the university has shown qualitative gains, with the share of papers in the global top 10% by citation rising from 11.5% to 14.2%. These results are reflected in Korea’s national university rankings, where Kyung Hee has consistently moved up due to its strong research performance.
Kyung Hee University’s research is particularly strong in medicine, health sciences, engineering, natural sciences, and basic sciences. Research teams have made significant contributions in digital health, global disease epidemiology, oncology, geriatrics, robotics, environmental monitoring, and next-generation semiconductors. These strengths support the university’s vision of becoming a "true university of future" that links fundamental discovery with global application.
International collaboration has also played a crucial role in Kyung Hee’s improved Korea university rank. The proportion of international co-authored papers rose from 29.8% in 2019 to 38.1% in 2024, placing the university third nationally in this category. The average FWCI of these collaborations reached 2.63, demonstrating high-impact outcomes from global partnerships.
Kyung Hee is home to the International Center for Quantum Matter, an initiative involving leading scholars from the National University of Singapore and Harvard University, including Nobel laureates. These partnerships support world-class research in physics, chemistry, and materials science.
Internationalization has long been part of Kyung Hee’s institutional identity. In 2026, the university ranked second in Korea for global engagement, a reflection of its commitment to inclusive academic exchange and cross-border research.
At the same time, Kyung Hee is investing in strategic infrastructure to support future growth. The university recently launched the Kyung Hee AI Committee to oversee campus-wide integration of artificial intelligence in governance and education. A new Institutional Research (IR) Center has been established to deliver data-driven policy insights, aligning long-term planning with performance metrics.
The next three to four years are considered a "golden time" for university transformation. Kyung Hee is implementing reforms across status, personnel, finances, infrastructure, and satisfaction — all aimed at raising its international competitiveness and academic standing.
The university also plays a key role in national research initiatives. In June, Kyung Hee was selected for the 2025 Medical AI Specialized Convergence Talent Development Project, hosted by Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare. With a five-year budget of 4.75 billion KRW, the project will develop globally competitive experts at the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine.
Kyung Hee’s advancement in the top universities in South Korea is not simply the result of improved rankings. It reflects a decades-long effort to blend tradition with innovation, placing education, research, and public engagement at the heart of institutional strategy. The university continues to evolve as a leader within Korea and as a rising force in global academia.
About Kyung Hee University
Established in 1949, Kyung Hee University is a prestigious private comprehensive university in South Korea, recently ranking 5th among domestic private universities in the 2026 THE World University Rankings. Renowned for its world-class research, KHU is rapidly rising as a global hub for academic innovation. More information about Kyung Hee University is available at Kyung Hee University, with additional global context from THE Rankings, QS Asia Rankings, Study in Korea, and Kyung Hee research and partnerships.
Media Contact
Minjae Jeong
communication@khu.ac.kr
