Hotel Shilla, Severance Hospital and Sungkyunkwan University topped the consumer satisfaction rankings in their respective industries, according to the NCSI survey for 2014.

In the overall rankings, Hotel Shilla ranked top out of the surveyed 305 companies and institutions with 84 points, Severance Hospital at No. 5 with 81 points, and Sungkyunkwan University at No. 9 with 80 points.

Established in 1973 by Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chull, Hotel Shilla is a luxury hotel with locations in Seoul and Jejudo Island, and is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. The hotel in Seoul went through a seven-month renovation in 2013, and now boasts an outdoor pool with a bar and bistro called Urban Island as well as a fitness club and upscale restaurants.

Severance Hospital, which topped in the category of general hospitals, is the oldest Western-style one in Korea, founded in 1885 as a royal hospital named Gwanghyewon. It was renamed in 1904 after American donor Louis Severance.

Severance is well known for their risk-minimizing robotic surgery, and also has one of the oldest international health care centers for foreign expats in Korea.

Sungkyunkwan University, which ranked first in the sector of private college, is a university with two campuses each in Seoul and Suwon. It is a successor to Sungkyunkwan, a prestigious educational institution from the Joseon Dynasty founded in 1398. The university offers a Global MBA program taught entirely in English, and also boasts one of the best medical schools, affiliated with Samsung Medical Center.

(sangyj@heraldcorp.com)