South Korea ranked 14th out of some one-hundred-70 countries in the number of papers published in leading scientific journals last year.

After analyzing findings by the U.S.-compiled National Science Indicator database, the Ministry of Science and Technology said that South Korean scientists and researchers released 19-thousand-279 papers last year, up more than two-point-six percent from the previous year.

According to the ministry, out of the total number of scientific papers released around the world last year, South Korea accounted for around one-point-nine percent of the total, up some one-tenths of a percentage point from 2003. It is the third straight time for the nation to rank 14th in the area.

Many of the papers were found to have covered engineering, computers and the natural sciences, signaling South Korea's expertise in those fields.