On September 28, 2025, the South Korean Ministry of Education unveiled the final results for its ambitious 'Glocal University 30' initiative, marking a watershed moment for higher education outside the capital region. The announcement, covered by multiple outlets including Newsis and Jungbu Maeil, revealed that nine universities—among them Jeonnam National University, Jeju National University, Kyungsung University, Suncheonhyang University, Chosun University, Chosun Nursing University, Chungnam National University, National Gongju University, and Hanseo University—have been newly designated as 'glocal' or specialized regional universities. This marks the conclusion of a multi-year selection process, with a total of 27 models and 39 universities now forming the backbone of what government officials hope will be a new era of regional innovation and self-sufficiency.
The 'Glocal University 30' project, launched in 2023, is the Ministry's signature effort to foster educational innovation and nurture local talent outside the Seoul metropolitan area. As Newsis reports, the initiative is part of the government’s broader agenda to drive regional development and address the longstanding imbalance between Seoul and other provinces. The program’s core promise? To select around 30 non-metropolitan universities and support them with up to 100 billion won (about $75 million) each over five years—an even larger sum, up to 150 billion won, for universities that merge into larger consortia.
This year’s final selection round was fiercely competitive. According to Jungbu Maeil, 18 preliminary models vied for a coveted spot, with only 7 models (representing 9 universities) making the cut—a selection rate of just 2.57 to 1. The latest additions join 20 models chosen in previous rounds, creating a diverse landscape of innovation stretching from the southern tip of Jeju to the industrial heartlands of Gwangju and Daejeon.
What sets these universities apart? The Ministry of Education has prioritized institutions that offer bold, differentiated approaches to education and research. As outlined by Newsis, the selected universities are expected to harness artificial intelligence (AI) in both teaching and research, develop self-sustaining financial models, and build globally competitive specialization tracks. Some, like the newly merged Chungnam National University and National Gongju University, are being lauded for their "super-regional integration model"—a first-of-its-kind partnership spanning the Daejeon and Chungnam regions, symbolizing the government’s push for university consolidation and reform.
Other universities have impressed evaluators by proposing large-scale collaborations, breaking down traditional barriers between departments and institutions. There’s also a strong emphasis on fostering ties with local industries through the RISE (Regional Innovation System for Education) framework, which brings together central and local governments, universities, and industry partners. The goal is to turn these campuses into engines for regional economic growth and innovation, not just academic ivory towers.
Universities that have been selected will soon sign formal agreements with the Ministry and their respective local governments. These agreements, as Newsis details, will guarantee financial support and regulatory flexibility, enabling the schools to implement their proposed reforms without being stymied by bureaucratic red tape. In particular, the government is keen to cultivate a new generation of "specialized research universities," modeled after the country’s top science and technology institutions, and to foster cooperation between regional universities, national research centers, and industry clusters.
But not all applicants were successful. The Jungbu Maeil story highlights the disappointment among several Daejeon-area universities, such as National Hanbat University and Hannam University, which failed to make the final list despite mounting aggressive bids. The selection process has been closely watched, especially in regions that have historically lagged behind in terms of government investment and student recruitment. As the dust settles, some universities are expected to file formal objections to the evaluation results, with the Ministry set to review any appeals and announce the final, unchallengeable list by mid-October 2025.
For the winners, however, the work is only just beginning. The Ministry of Education has pledged to provide not only funding but also policy support for structural reforms, including the creation of special research groups and the streamlining of academic programs. The selected universities are expected to serve as "innovation hubs," piloting new models that, if successful, could be replicated nationwide.
Education Minister Choi Gyo-jin, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs, emphasized the stakes in a statement quoted by Newsis: "In an era where balanced national development is not a 'choice' but a 'destiny,' the role of universities in nurturing talent and fostering industry-academia cooperation for regional growth is more important than ever. I urge the designated specialized regional universities to take the lead."
The broader context is clear: South Korea’s higher education sector faces mounting challenges, from demographic decline and shrinking enrollments to a growing skills mismatch between graduates and the needs of local economies. The 'Glocal University 30' project is a direct response to these pressures, aiming to revitalize regional campuses and stem the exodus of young people to Seoul. The Ministry has also signaled that by the end of 2025, it will present new policy directions for university restructuring, building on the lessons learned from this initiative.
Collaboration is the watchword. The RISE system, central to the project, is designed to break down silos between universities and their surrounding communities. By aligning educational programs with the demands of regional industries—think smart manufacturing in Gwangju, green energy in Jeju, or biotech in Daejeon—the government hopes to ensure that graduates are job-ready and that research breakthroughs translate into real-world impact.
As the project moves into its next phase, attention will turn to how these universities implement their ambitious plans. Will AI-driven curricula and new research clusters deliver the promised boost to regional economies? Can university mergers and industry partnerships overcome entrenched resistance and bureaucratic inertia? Only time will tell, but for now, the Ministry’s bold experiment has set the stage for a new chapter in South Korea’s educational story.
With the final list of designated universities to be confirmed by mid-October, and with billions of won in funding on the line, the eyes of the nation’s academic and business communities are firmly fixed on these newly minted "glocal" campuses. Their success—or failure—will shape not just the future of regional education, but the broader trajectory of national innovation and development.
