As a critical component in automotive engines, the valve seat ring directly correlates with the engine service life.However, limitations such as insufficient wear resistance and susceptibility to oxidation during operation restrict the durability of valve seat rings.Surface modification during the manufacturing process has emerged as an effective solution to address these challenges.Current research on surface modification techniques for valve seat rings lacks systematic summarization.To bridge this gap, an overview of surface modification technologies and their advancements in this field was conducted. Firstly, the working environment of valve seat rings and research progress in commonly used materials were comprehensively analyzed. Subsequently, it focused on the effects of surface modification techniques（including metal nitride films, laser cladding coatings, and heat treatment processes） on the wear resistance and high-temperature oxidation resistance of valve seat rings. It further explored the relationship between these techniques and the performance optimization of different categories of seat ring materials. Finally, it summarized current achievements and proposed future directions for surface modification of valve seat rings.