R&D labs in South Korea

The 311 Institute tracks 153 R&D labs in South Korea: 72 research institutes, 54 government, 16 corporate, 6 military and 5 university. Most are in Seoul, Daejeon and Pohang, and the leading organisations include South Korea government, National Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science and National Research Council of Science and Technology. Their main focus areas are electrical and electronic engineering, aerospace engineering, economics and econometrics and biomedical engineering.

Part of the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory. Compiled by Matthew Griffin. Last updated 7 October 2026.

153labs

104organisations

34cities

147verified

Explore on the interactive map Book a Briefing

Why these labs matter

LG AI Research: South Korea's leading corporate AI lab.

Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology: Key to the next generations of memory and chip technology that AI depends on.

Samsung Research: Shapes AI across billions of Samsung devices.

KAIST: South Korea's leading science university.

All 153 labs

Lab and organisation	Location	Type and sector	Focus	Founded
Advanced Biomass R&D Center (South Korea)Advanced Biomass R&D Center (South Korea)	Daejeon, South Korea	Corporate Energy and resources	Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Molecular Biology, Environmental Chemistry
Celltrion R&DCelltrion	Incheon, South Korea	Corporate Healthcare and life sciences	Biosimilars	2002
Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Research Institute (South Korea)Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Research Institute (South Korea)	Gumi, South Korea	Corporate Industrials and manufacturing	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Materials Chemistry	2001
Hanwha Aerospace R&DHanwha	Changwon, South Korea	Corporate Aerospace, defence and space	Engines, Defence
Hyundai Uiwang R&D CenterHyundai Motor Group	Uiwang, South Korea	Corporate Automotive and mobility	Hydrogen, EVs
Namyang R&D CenterHyundai Motor Group	Hwaseong, South Korea	Corporate Automotive and mobility	Electrification, Hydrogen, Robotics
LG AI ResearchLG	Seoul, South Korea	Corporate Technology	AI	2020
LG Energy Solution R&DLG	Daejeon, South Korea	Corporate Energy and resources	Batteries
LG Science ParkLG	Seoul, South Korea	Corporate Technology	Electronics, Materials	2017
Naver Cloud AINaver	Seongnam, South Korea	Corporate Technology	LLMs, Search	1999
POSCO Technical Research LaboratoriesPOSCO	Pohang, South Korea	Corporate Chemicals and materials	Steel, Battery materials	1977
Samsung Advanced Institute of TechnologySamsung	Suwon, South Korea	Corporate Technology	Semiconductors, AI, Materials	1987
Samsung ResearchSamsung	Seoul, South Korea	Corporate Technology	AI, 6G, Robotics	1998
Samsung Semiconductor R&D (Giheung)Samsung	Yongin, South Korea	Corporate Technology	Chips
SK hynix R&DSK hynix	Icheon, South Korea	Corporate Technology	Memory, HBM	1983
SK Telecom AI R&DSK Telecom	Seoul, South Korea	Corporate Telecommunications	AI, 6G
Global Green Growth Institute (South Korea)Global Green Growth Institute (South Korea)	Seoul, South Korea	Government Environment and climate	Global and Planetary Change, Economics and Econometrics, Finance
Ministry of Science and ICTGovernment of the Republic of Korea	Sejong, South Korea	Government Industrials and manufacturing	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering	2017
Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology AdvancementKorea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement	Anyang-si, South Korea	Government Industrials and manufacturing	Civil and Structural Engineering, Building and Construction, Control and Systems Engineering	2002
Korea Center for Disease Control and PreventionKorea Center for Disease Control and Prevention	Seoul, South Korea	Government Healthcare and life sciences	Parasitology, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology	2004
Korea Environmental Industry and Technology InstituteKorea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute	Seoul, South Korea	Government Environment and climate	Water Science and Technology, Biomedical Engineering, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis	2009
Korea Federation of Science and Technology SocietiesKorea Federation of Science and Technology Societies	Seoul, South Korea	Government Public policy and analysis	Strategy and Management, Education, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty	1994
Korea Health Industry Development InstituteKorea Health Industry Development Institute	Seoul, South Korea	Government Healthcare and life sciences	Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Food Science	1998
Korea Infrastructure Organization for NanotechnologyKorea Infrastructure Organization for Nanotechnology	Seoul, South Korea	Government Multidisciplinary research	Research	2009
Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and PlanningKorea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning	Seoul, South Korea	Government Energy and resources	Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Economics and Econometrics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering	2009
Korea Institute of Hydrological SurveyKorea Institute of Hydrological Survey	Goyang-si, South Korea	Government Environment and climate	Water Science and Technology, Atmospheric Science, Ecology	2017
Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries TechnologyKorea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology	Busan, South Korea	Government Environment and climate	Ocean Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes	1998
Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesKorea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries	Anyang-si, South Korea	Government Agriculture and food	Plant Science, Genetics, Molecular Biology	2009
Korea Institute of Sport ScienceKorea Institute of Sport Science	Seoul, South Korea	Government Healthcare and life sciences	Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Physiology, Complementary and alternative medicine	1980
Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean EngineeringKorea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering	Yuseong-gu, South Korea	Government Environment and climate	Ocean Engineering, Computational Mechanics, Oceanography	1973
Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEsKorea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs	Seoul, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Language and Linguistics, Philosophy, Artificial Intelligence	2022
Korea-China Science & Technology Cooperation CenterKorea-China Science & Technology Cooperation Center	Seoul, South Korea	Government Healthcare and life sciences	Dermatology	2003
Marine Biodiversity Institute of KoreaMarine Biodiversity Institute of Korea	Sejong, South Korea	Government Environment and climate	Oceanography, Ecology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
National Institute of Fisheries ScienceMinistry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs	Busan, South Korea	Government Environment and climate	Immunology, Aquatic Science, Global and Planetary Change	1921
Korea Education and Research Information ServiceMinistry of Education	Daegu, South Korea	Government Technology	Information Systems, Education, Human-Computer Interaction	1999
National Institute for International EducationMinistry of Education	Seongnam-si, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Sociology and Political Science, Communication, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management	2008
Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination InstituteMinistry of Health and Welfare	Seoul, South Korea	Government Healthcare and life sciences	Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Management Science and Operations Research, General Health Professions	1952
Korea National Institute of HealthMinistry of Health and Welfare	Cheongju-si, South Korea	Government Healthcare and life sciences	Genetics, Molecular Medicine, Infectious Diseases	1963
Institute of JusticeMinistry of Justice	Chinch'ŏn, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Law, Computer Networks and Communications, Sociology and Political Science	1950
Korea Transport InstituteMinistry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport	Sejong, South Korea	Government Industrials and manufacturing	Transportation, Control and Systems Engineering, Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality	1986
National Radio Research AgencyMinistry of Science and ICT	Naju, South Korea	Government Industrials and manufacturing	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Aerospace Engineering	2011
National Research Council of Science and TechnologyMinistry of Science and ICT	Sejong, South Korea	Government Multidisciplinary research	Nutrition and Dietetics, Biomedical Engineering, Information Systems and Management	2014
National Research Foundation of KoreaMinistry of Science and ICT	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Healthcare and life sciences	Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty, Surgery, Information Systems and Management	1977
Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial TechnologyMinistry of Trade, Industry and Energy	Daegu, South Korea	Government Aerospace, defence and space	Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment	2009
National Institute of EcologyNational Institute of Ecology	Wondosam, South Korea	Government Agriculture and food	Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Genetics, Oceanography	2013
National Institute of Environmental ResearchNational Institute of Environmental Research	Incheon, South Korea	Government Environment and climate	Atmospheric Science, Global and Planetary Change, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis	1978
National Institute of Korean HistoryNational Institute of Korean History	Seoul, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Sociology and Political Science, Economics and Econometrics, History
Korea Information Society Development InstituteNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Chinch'ŏn, South Korea	Government Public policy and analysis	Media Technology, Economics and Econometrics, Information Systems and Management	1985
Korea Institute for Curriculum and EvaluationNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Seoul, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Education, Applied Mathematics, Management Science and Operations Research	1998
Korea Institute for National UnificationNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Seoul, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Sociology and Political Science, Political Science and International Relations, Economics and Econometrics	1991
Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and TrainingNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Sejong, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Economics and Econometrics, Political Science and International Relations, Education	1997
Korea Women's Development InstituteNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Seoul, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Gender Studies, Sociology and Political Science, Economics and Econometrics	1983
The Korea Institute of Public AdministrationNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Seoul, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Public Administration, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Political Science and International Relations	1991
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building TechnologyNational Research Council of Science and Technology	Goyang-si, South Korea	Government Industrials and manufacturing	Building and Construction, Civil and Structural Engineering, Water Science and Technology	1983
National Security Research InstituteNational Research Council of Science and Technology	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Technology	Computer Networks and Communications, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems	2000
The Seoul InstituteSeoul Metropolitan Government	Seoul, South Korea	Government Social sciences and humanities	Transportation, Toxicology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging	1992
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Telecommunications	6G, AI, Semiconductors	1976
Institute for Basic Science (IBS)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Basic science	Basic science	2011
Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Aerospace, defence and space	Space, Aeronautics	1989
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Basic science	Astronomy	1974
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Energy and resources	Nuclear, SMRs	1959
Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Energy and resources	Hydrogen, Solar	1977
Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KSTAR)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Energy and resources	Fusion	2005
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Energy and resources	Minerals, Geoscience	1918
Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH)South Korea government	Cheonan, South Korea	Government Industrials and manufacturing	Manufacturing	1989
Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Industrials and manufacturing	Machinery, Robotics	1976
Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)South Korea government	Seoul, South Korea	Government Technology	AI, Robotics, Materials	1966
Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Healthcare and life sciences	Biotech	1985
Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Chemicals and materials	Chemistry, Drug discovery	1976
Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Government Technology	Metrology, Quantum	1975
Defense Agency for Technology and QualityDefense Acquisition Program Administration	Jinju, South Korea	Military Aerospace and defence	Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality, Aerospace Engineering, Strategy and Management	1981
Institute of Civil-Military Technology CooperationInstitute of Civil-Military Technology Cooperation	Yuseong-gu, South Korea	Military Aerospace and defence	Water Science and Technology, Biomedical Engineering, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and AdvancementKorea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement	Jinju, South Korea	Military Multidisciplinary research	Aerospace Engineering, Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality, Artificial Intelligence	2021
Military Crypto Research CenterMilitary Crypto Research Center	Seoul, South Korea	Military Multidisciplinary research	Research	2017
Korea Institute for Defense AnalysesMinistry of National Defense	Seoul, South Korea	Military Social sciences and humanities	Sociology and Political Science, Political Science and International Relations, Aerospace Engineering	1979
Agency for Defense Development (ADD)South Korea government	Daejeon, South Korea	Military Aerospace, defence and space	Defence, Missiles	1970
Pohang Accelerator LaboratoryPohang University of Science and Technology	Pohang, South Korea	University Industrials and manufacturing	Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment	1988
Advanced Institute of Convergence TechnologySeoul National University	Suwon, South Korea	University Industrials and manufacturing	Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Radiation	2005
KAISTUniversities in South Korea	Daejeon, South Korea	University Multidisciplinary research	AI, Robotics, Semiconductors	1971
POSTECHUniversities in South Korea	Pohang, South Korea	University Multidisciplinary research	Materials, Synchrotron	1986
Seoul National UniversityUniversities in South Korea	Seoul, South Korea	University Multidisciplinary research	Multidisciplinary	1946
Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical PhysicsAsia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics	Pohang, South Korea	Research institute Nuclear	Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Statistical and Nonlinear Physics	1996
Asia Pacific Foundation for Infectious DiseasesAsia Pacific Foundation for Infectious Diseases	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Molecular Medicine, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Infectious Diseases	2000
Center for Quantum NanoscienceCenter for Quantum Nanoscience	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Basic science	Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Biomedical Engineering
Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical SciencesDongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences	Busan, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Radiation, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine	2010
Global Frontier Hybrid Interface MaterialsGlobal Frontier Hybrid Interface Materials	Busan, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Mechanics of Materials	2013
Gyeonggi Research InstituteGyeonggi Research Institute	Suwon, South Korea	Research institute Social sciences and humanities	Transportation, Food Science, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law	1995
Gyeonggido Business and Science AcceleratorGyeonggido Business and Science Accelerator	Suwon, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Plant Science, Molecular Biology, Complementary and alternative medicine	1997
Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension ServicesGyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services	Jinju, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Cell Biology, Soil Science, Plant Science	1908
Innovative Research Institute for Cell TherapyInnovative Research Institute for Cell Therapy	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Genetics, Molecular Biology, Surgery
Institute for Advanced EngineeringInstitute for Advanced Engineering	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Waste Management and Disposal	1992
International Tuberculosis Research CenterInternational Tuberculosis Research Center	Changwon, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Infectious Diseases, Surgery, Epidemiology	2004
Jeonnam Bioindustry FoundationJeonnam Bioindustry Foundation	Naju, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Plant Science, Aquatic Science, Cancer Research	2002
National NanoFab CenterKorea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Chemistry
Korea Automotive Technology InstituteKorea Automotive Technology Institute	Cheonan, South Korea	Research institute Automotive and mobility	Automotive Engineering, Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes, Electrical and Electronic Engineering	1990
Korea Brain Research InstituteKorea Brain Research Institute	Daegu, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Physiology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Neurology	2011
Korea Centre for Atmospheric Environment ResearchKorea Centre for Atmospheric Environment Research	Cheongju-si, South Korea	Research institute Environment and climate	Global and Planetary Change, Atmospheric Science, Earth-Surface Processes	1993
Korea Culture & Tourism InstituteKorea Culture & Tourism Institute	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Social sciences and humanities	Sociology and Political Science, Social Psychology, Marketing	1985
Korea Dyeing & Finishing Technology InstituteKorea Dyeing & Finishing Technology Institute	Daegu, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Building and Construction, Polymers and Plastics, Mechanical Engineering
Korea Electric Power Research InstituteKorea Electric Power Corporation (South Korea)	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Materials Chemistry
Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Central Research InstituteKorea Hydro and Nuclear Power (Korea)	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Chemistry	2011
Korea Institute for Advanced StudyKorea Institute for Advanced Study	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Nuclear	Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Geometry and Topology, Astronomy and Astrophysics	1996
Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and TechnologyKorea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology	Cheonan, South Korea	Research institute Chemicals and materials	Ceramics and Composites, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Materials Chemistry	2007
Korea Institute of Nuclear SafetyKorea Institute of Nuclear Safety	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality, Aerospace Engineering, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty	1981
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and TechnologyKorea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology	Busan, South Korea	Research institute Environment and climate	Oceanography, Earth-Surface Processes, Ecology	1973
Korea Polar Research InstituteKorea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology	Incheon, South Korea	Research institute Environment and climate	Ecology, Atmospheric Science, Oceanography	2004
Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical SciencesKorea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Radiation, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine	1963
Korea Institute of Robot and ConvergenceKorea Institute of Robot and Convergence	Pohang, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Ocean Engineering, Control and Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering	2005
KISTI National Supercomputing CenterKorea Institute of Science & Technology Information	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Technology	Computer Networks and Communications, Hardware and Architecture, Information Systems
Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis Treatment and Care System of DementiaKorea Institute of Science and Technology	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Physiology, Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience	2015
Korea Institute of ToxicologyKorea Institute of Toxicology	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Immunology, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Cancer Research	2002
Land and Housing InstituteKorea Land and Housing Corporation (South Korea)	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Environmental Engineering, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Biomedical Engineering	1962
National Meteorological Satellite CenterKorea Meteorological Administration	Chinch'ŏn, South Korea	Research institute Environment and climate	Global and Planetary Change, Atmospheric Science, Aerospace Engineering	2009
Korea Photonics Technology InstituteKorea Photonics Technology Institute	Gwangju, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Condensed Matter Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics	2000
Korea Bioinformation CenterKorea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Molecular Biology, Plant Science, Materials Chemistry	2001
Korea Testing & Research InstituteKorea Testing & Research Institute	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Materials Chemistry, Immunology, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis	1969
Korean Institute of Footwear and Leather TechnologyKorean Institute of Footwear and Leather Technology	Busan, South Korea	Research institute Chemicals and materials	Polymers and Plastics, Mechanical Engineering, Biomaterials	1987
Korean Institute of TuberculosisKorean Institute of Tuberculosis	Cheongju-si, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Surgery	1970
Max-Planck-POSTECH Center for Complex Phase MaterialMax-Planck-POSTECH Center for Complex Phase Material	Pohang, South Korea	Research institute Basic science	Condensed Matter Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Materials Chemistry	2011
Microbial Institute for Fermentation IndustryMicrobial Institute for Fermentation Industry	Suncheon, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Food Science, Molecular Biology, Genetics	2010
National Agricultural Products Quality Management ServiceMinistry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs	Gimcheon, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Food Science, Analytical Chemistry, Pollution	1999
Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological ResourcesMinistry of Environment	Sangju-si, South Korea	Research institute Multidisciplinary research	Molecular Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Oceanography	2015
National Institute of Chemical SafetyMinistry of Environment	Cheongju-si, South Korea	Research institute Multidisciplinary research	Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty, Chemical Health and Safety, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis	2014
National Institute of Food and Drug Safety EvaluationMinistry of Food and Drug Safety	Cheongju-si, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Food Science, Analytical Chemistry, Toxicology	1987
Korea Marine Equipment Research InstituteMinistry of Oceans and Fisheries	Busan, South Korea	Research institute Environment and climate	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Ocean Engineering	1994
Center for Advanced Soft ElectronicsMinistry of Science and ICT	Pohang, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Polymers and Plastics, Materials Chemistry	2011
Korea Carbon Capture & Sequestration R&D CenterMinistry of Science and ICT	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Chemicals and materials	Mechanical Engineering, Organic Chemistry, Process Chemistry and Technology	2011
National Forensic InstituteMinistry of the Interior and Safety	Wŏnju, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Toxicology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Genetics	1955
Korea Electronics Technology InstituteMinistry of Trade, Industry and Energy	Seongnam-si, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition	1991
National Academy of Agricultural ScienceNational Academy of Agricultural Science	Wanju, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Food Science, Plant Science, Cell Biology	1962
National Institute of Animal ScienceNational Institute of Animal Science	Wanju, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Genetics, Animal Science and Zoology, Agronomy and Crop Science	1906
National Institute of Biological ResourcesNational Institute of Biological Resources	Incheon, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Oceanography, Molecular Biology	2007
National Institute of Forestry ScienceNational Institute of Forestry Science	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Environment and climate	Cell Biology, Building and Construction, Global and Planetary Change
National Institute of Meteorological SciencesNational Institute of Meteorological Sciences	Seogwipo, South Korea	Research institute Environment and climate	Atmospheric Science, Global and Planetary Change, Oceanography	1978
National Rehabilitation CenterNational Rehabilitation Center	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Rehabilitation, Biomedical Engineering, Pathology and Forensic Medicine	1949
Korea Institute for Health and Social AffairsNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Sejong, South Korea	Research institute Social sciences and humanities	Health, Economics and Econometrics, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health	1970
Korea Institute of Public FinanceNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Public policy and analysis	Economics and Econometrics, Political Science and International Relations, Public Administration	1992
Korea Maritime InstituteNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Environment and climate	Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Ocean Engineering	1997
Korea Rural Economic InstituteNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Naju, South Korea	Research institute Public policy and analysis	Safety Research, Economics and Econometrics, General Economics, Econometrics and Finance	1978
Science and Technology Policy InstituteNational Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Public policy and analysis	Information Systems and Management, Economics and Econometrics, Political Science and International Relations	1999
Korea Basic Science InstituteNational Research Council of Science and Technology	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Energy and resources	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Geophysics, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment	1988
Korea Food Research InstituteNational Research Council of Science and Technology	Wanju, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Food Science, Animal Science and Zoology, Biochemistry	1987
Korea Institute of Oriental MedicineNational Research Council of Science and Technology	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Complementary and alternative medicine, Plant Science	1994
Korea Institute of Science & Technology InformationNational Research Council of Science and Technology	Daejeon, South Korea	Research institute Nuclear	Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Computer Networks and Communications, Information Systems	1962
Korea Railroad Research InstituteNational Research Council of Science and Technology	Uiwang, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Mechanical Engineering, Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering	1996
World Institute of KimchiNational Research Council of Science and Technology	Gwangju, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Food Science, Molecular Biology, Ecology	2010
National Veterinary Research and Quarantine ServiceNational Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service	Anyang-si, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Animal Science and Zoology, Epidemiology, Agronomy and Crop Science	1909
Occupational Safety and Health Research InstituteOccupational Safety and Health Research Institute	Ulsan, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Occupational Therapy, Cancer Research, Radiological and Ultrasound Technology	1989
Research Institute for Veterinary ScienceResearch Institute for Veterinary Science	Seoul, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Small Animals, Genetics, Immunology	1982
Research Institute of Industrial Science and TechnologyResearch Institute of Industrial Science and Technology	Pohang, South Korea	Research institute Industrials and manufacturing	Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering	1987
National Institute of Crop ScienceRural Development Administration	Wanju, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Plant Science, Genetics, Nutrition and Dietetics	2008
National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal ScienceRural Development Administration	Wanju, South Korea	Research institute Agriculture and food	Plant Science, Cell Biology, Soil Science
Scripps Korea Antibody InstituteScripps Korea Antibody Institute	Chuncheon, South Korea	Research institute Healthcare and life sciences	Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Immunology and Allergy, Infectious Diseases	2008

R&D ecosystems in South Korea

Organisations with labs in South Korea

Other countries in Asia

Questions and answers

How many R&D labs are there in South Korea?

The 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory lists 153 active R&D labs in South Korea as of October 2026: 72 research institutes, 54 government, 16 corporate, 6 military and 5 university.

Which organisations run the most R&D labs in South Korea?

In this directory the organisations with the most labs in South Korea are South Korea government, National Research Council for Economics Humanities and Social Science and National Research Council of Science and Technology.

Where are R&D labs concentrated in South Korea?

They cluster around Seoul, Daejeon and Pohang. The largest R&D ecosystem is Daejeon and Daedeok Innopolis.

© 311 Institute 2016–2026. This directory is the proprietary work of the 311 Institute, protected by copyright and database rights. Copying, scraping or republishing any substantial part without written permission is prohibited.