The Korea Times University Rankings 2027: Who holds the No. 1 spot?

The Korea Times University Rankings 2027. (Photo: The Korea Times)

While leading institutions maintained their familiar strongholds, a revised evaluation methodology caused notable reshuffling across the remaining positions. This year's results underscore a clear transition from mere numerical growth toward quality-driven internationalization and sustainable global educational environments.

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At the top of the table, stability remained the defining feature. Korea University secured the number one spot nationwide for the second consecutive year. It was closely followed by the other two prestigious “SKY” institutions: Seoul National University in second place and Yonsei University in third. Rounding out the top six were Sungkyunkwan University, Hanyang University, and Sogang University, respectively.

The most notable highlight within the top 10 was Sejong University's impressive leap, climbing six places to reach 7th overall. This surge was driven by a sharp rise in its education score alongside sustained excellence in international research. Conversely, the University of Seoul experienced a drop in its education score, falling four spots to 11th. The remaining top 10 positions were held by Ewha Womans University, Kyung Hee University, and Dongguk University.

These movements across the rankings stem from a refined assessment framework, which expanded to cover 60 universities with a maximum total of 200 points across 19 indicators. The revised criteria tightened focus on international student management by evaluating the retention rate specifically among degree-seeking students. Consequently, institutions that successfully minimized dropout rates saw marked gains.

Furthermore, a newly introduced indicator measuring the proportion of international full-time faculty revealed a wide disparity. Private universities demonstrated significantly greater agility in internationalizing their academic staff compared to public institutions. Capitalizing on these updated metrics, Yeungnam University and Kookmin University broke into the top 30 for the first time.

Students of Korea University pose during the graduation ceremony. (Photo: Korea University)

Although institutions in the Seoul metropolitan area continue to dominate, accounting for 23 of the top 30 universities, category-specific analyses highlight strong performances from regional and smaller institutions. In the student support category, Handong Global University in Pohang delivered a standout performance, ranking second nationwide behind only Seoul National University. In the education category, Daejeon-based Woosong University climbed to 4th place, while Busan-based Kyungsung University secured 10th place in education despite ranking 50th overall.

However, the graduate outcomes and social impact category registered the lowest average score overall, highlighting that post-graduation employment and societal integration remain major hurdles for most Korean universities.

Through its 2027 rankings, The Korea Times reinforces a strategic imperative for Korean higher education: moving beyond enrollment growth to build high-quality global academic ecosystems. Moving forward, the publication plans to incorporate indicators on settlement infrastructure and student satisfaction to provide an even more comprehensive guide for prospective students.

Some criteria in the ranking. (Source: The Korea Times)

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