STEM professors now lead majority of South Korean top universities

Science and engineering professors now lead 63.3% of South Korea's top 30 universities — a dramatic reversal from 2016, when humanities and social sciences scholars held 56.7% of those same presidencies, according to The Korea Times.

The shift reflects sweeping changes in Korean higher education policy, as government funding programs increasingly reward research output and industry partnerships — a trend tied to South Korea's national ambitions in semiconductors and biotechnology.

Among the top 10 universities specifically, presidents with STEM credentials more than doubled — from two in 2016 to five in 2026, according to The Korea Times K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026. Four institutions named STEM presidents for the first time in their histories: Kyung Hee, Ewha Womans, Chung-Ang and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

Global ranking methodologies are intensifying that pressure. QS World University Rankings tie roughly 50% of a school's composite score to research metrics, while Times Higher Education places a 59% weight on research in its formula, The Korea Times reported. The Ministry of Education's flagship funding initiatives — targeting industry-university cooperation and graduate research capacity — have similarly shifted toward rewarding demonstrable research output and industrial ties.

At Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, President Kang Kee-hoon took office in March 2026 and moved quickly. Within one month, Kang signed agreements with Naver Cloud for a smart campus program and with LG CNS for artificial intelligence education. "There is growing expectation within the university that, given his background, Kang can both preserve its identity and respond more swiftly to the demands of a rapidly changing era," a HUFS official told The Korea Times.

Ewha Womans University turned to mathematics professor Lee Hyang-sook to oversee an expansion of science and engineering programs. "Being elected as president reflects expectations that I will take a more scientific approach and expand opportunities in science and engineering," Lee said in a Korea Times interview last year.

Chung-Ang University, which also appointed its first STEM president in March 2026, framed the decision in results-driven terms. "The decision was aimed at building an ecosystem where education, research and industry collaboration are closely integrated, and demonstrating tangible outcomes and performance," a university official said.

The trend comes as South Korea accelerates investment in semiconductor and biotechnology workforce development, positioning research-driven university leadership as a key pillar of its broader technology strategy.