Twelve Korean physicians have been named Highly Cited Researchers for 2025, including ten recognized in clinical medicine and two selected in the cross-field category for work ranking among the world’s top 1 percent by citations.
Clarivate, a global academic information analyst, announced the selection of 6,868 Highly Cited Researchers (HCRs) for 2025 on Nov. 12, local time.
This evaluation was based on the number of citations received by SCI papers published in the relevant field and by publication year over the past 11 years, as recorded in the Web of Science Core Collection. Additional strategic indicators, qualitative analysis, and expert judgment were also considered.
Seventy-six researchers affiliated with Korean universities and research institutions made the HCR list. Excluding foreigners, 67 are Korean nationals. In the Clinical Medicine field, 12 Korean physicians were selected as HCRs. Two Korean physicians were also included in the Cross-Field category. Cross-Field classifies researchers who have published highly cited papers spanning two or more academic disciplines.
Three Korean physicians were selected as HCRs in Clinical Medicine for the sixth consecutive year: Professor Kim Dong-wan of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), former Professor Bang Yung-jue of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at SNUH, and Professor Ahn Myung-ju of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Samsung Medical Center (SMC).
Professor Kang Yoon-ku of the Department of Medical Oncology at Eulji University Hospital in Uijeongbu and formerly of Asan Medical Center (AMC), Professor Im Seock-ah of the Department of Hematology-Oncology at SNUH, and Chung Hyun-cheol, Professor Emeritus at Yonsei University College of Medicine, were selected as HCRs for the fifth consecutive year. Professor Lee Ki-hyeong of the Department of Hematology-Oncology at Chungbuk National University Hospital was named an HCR for the fourth consecutive year.
Professor Kim Sang-we of the Department of Medical Oncology at AMC was selected as an HCR again this year, following last year. Professor Park Se-hoon of the Department of Hematology-Oncology at SMC and Professor Oh Do-youn of the Department of Hematology-Oncology at SNUH were included in the HCR list for the first time this year.
Professor Lee Jong-seok of the Department of Hematology-Oncology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) and Professor Shin Jae-il of the Department of Pediatrics at Severance Hospital were selected as HCRs in the Cross-Field category.
Seoul National University produced the most HCRs with 16, followed by Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) with nine, Sungkyunkwan University with seven, Hanyang University with six, Yeungnam University, Kyung Hee University, and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) with four each, and Sejong University and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) with three each.
By country, the United States had the most with 2,670, followed by China with 1,406, the United Kingdom with 570, Germany with 363, and Australia with 312. By institution, the most numerous were researchers affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with 258. This was followed by Harvard University (170), Stanford University (141), and Tsinghua University (91).
(Caption)
The 12 top 1 percent Korean medical researchers worldwide are, from top left, Professor Kang Yoon-ku of Eulji University College of Medicine; Professor Kim Dong-wan of Seoul National University College of Medicine; Professor Kim Sang-we of Ulsan University College of Medicine; Professor Park Se-hoon of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine; Bang Yung-jue, former professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine; and Professor Ahn Myung-ju of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine. From bottom left are Professor Oh Do-youn of Seoul National University College of Medicine; Professor Lee Ki-hyeong of Chungbuk National University College of Medicine; Professor Im Seock-ah of Seoul National University College of Medicine; Professor Emeritus Chung Hyun-cheol of Yonsei University College of Medicine; Professor Shin Jae-il of Yonsei University College of Medicine; and Professor Lee Jong-seok of Seoul National University College of Medicine. (KBR photo)