Between 2008 and 2009, South Korea improved its standing in the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings. In 2008, it represented three universities in the global top 200. In 2009, it represented four. Seoul National University—South Korea’s top university—advanced on the list from 50th place to 47th.
At the same time, the U.S.’s standing worsened. In 2008, the U.S. had 37 universities in the top 100 and 58 in the top 200. In 2009, that dropped to 32 and 54, respectively.