Why Kyung Hee University Is Rising as a Top University in South Korea for Global Students

As global interest in academic research within Asia continues to surge, South Korea has become a primary destination for international talent. Within this competitive landscape, Kyung Hee University is increasingly dominating searches for a top university in South Korea, bolstered by solidified academic performance across major global evaluation frameworks.
 

[Image by Kyung Hee University]

A key driver of this visibility is the university's recent recognition under rigorous ranking standards. In the latest Times Higher Education (THE) evaluation, Kyung Hee University ranked fifth among private universities in South Korea. The THE framework assesses institutions based on critical pillars including research quality, teaching environment, international outlook, and industry collaboration.
 
Indicators of research quality show a consistent upward trajectory. Kyung Hee University’s Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) rose from 1.37 in 2019 to 1.42 in 2024, meaning its research outputs are cited 42 percent more frequently than the global average. Notably, the FWCI for papers in the top 25 percent by citations climbed to 1.54, positioning the university among the nation’s leading institutions for research excellence.
 
Research output has also expanded steadily. The total number of academic papers grew from 16,023 in 2019 to 20,934 in 2024. During the same period, papers ranked in the top 10 percent by citations increased from 1,837 to 2,951, while the share of highly cited papers rose from 11.5 percent to 14.2 percent.
 

In parallel, the QS World University Rankings, widely regarded for its comprehensive evaluation of academic prestige, placed Kyung Hee University fifth nationwide among comprehensive universities. This ranking reflects strong performance in academic reputation, employer evaluation, and transdisciplinary research impact.
 
Observers note that this dual recognition under THE’s private university criteria and QS’s comprehensive standardsdemonstrates balanced growth in both research depth and institutional breadth. Consequently, Kyung Hee University is being recognized by international audiences not just as an option, but as a definitive top university in South Korea offering stability and competitiveness in higher education.
  

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