'10 SNUs' plan faces backlash over funding gap, selection process

The government’s 10 Seoul National Universities initiative is drawing backlash after the Ministry of Education selected Pusan National University, Chonnam National University and Chungnam National University for concentrated funding. Critics say the plan lacks transparency and could deepen inequality among regional national universities. The ministry says geography played no role in the selection process.

The three selected universities will each receive 70 billion won in government funding to strengthen education in artificial intelligence and regional strategic industries.

The six other regional flagship national universities will receive about 40 billion won each in additional support for undergraduate education reform and shared university programs.

Kangwon National University said the plan risks turning the broader goal into support for only three departments at three universities, while the Korean National University Professors Union warned it could entrench a new hierarchy across the system.

Published Sep 5, 2026 7:00 am KST

Schools left out demand transparency, warn selective funding could deepen disparities

Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin announces the universities selected for the government's support package for regional flagship national universities at Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The government's initiative to create “10 Seoul National Universities” is facing growing backlash following the selection of three universities for concentrated funding, prompting questions over the transparency of the selection process and concerns that the initiative could create a new hierarchy among regional national universities.

The Ministry of Education on Tuesday selected Pusan National University, Chonnam National University and Chungnam National University as the first beneficiaries of the initiative. Each will receive 70 billion won ($51 million) in government funding to advance education in artificial intelligence and industries tied to regional strategic priorities.

While the three selected universities will each receive roughly 100 billion won more in government funding than last year, the six other regional flagship national universities will receive only about 40 billion won each in additional support for undergraduate education reform and shared university programs.

Pusan, Chonnam, Chungnam national universities selected for '10 SNUs' initiative

Universities left out of the initiative warn that, by the end of the five-year program, the funding gap could lead to significant disparities in educational conditions, learning environments and research capacity between the three selected universities and other national universities.

Kangwon National University criticized the current approach of pitting nine regional flagship national universities against one another and prioritizing funding for only three, saying the broader goal of creating Seoul National University-level educational ecosystems across the regions risks being reduced to simply developing three departments at three universities.

The ministry has also yet to specify which universities could receive additional funding in the future or how much would be available, raising concerns that those left out will be forced into another round of competition for support.

The Korean National University Professors Union warned that selecting just three universities could create and entrench a new hierarchy across the national university system. It urged the government to lay out a concrete plan for the broader development of all national universities.

The evaluation criteria have also come under scrutiny.

Kyungpook National University held an executive meeting Thursday to discuss its response to the decision.

A day earlier, the university's faculty council issued a statement calling on the education ministry to disclose the selection process and evaluation results. It said the ministry should provide an explanation that both the university community and local residents can accept, including how the universities were assessed on criteria such as education and research capabilities and ties to regional industries.

Meanwhile, the controversy has taken on a political dimension, as all three selected universities are located in regions led by governors affiliated with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.

Lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party representing Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province held a press conference Thursday, criticizing the region's exclusion from the initiative. The 17 lawmakers described the decision as another form of regional discrimination carried out in the name of balanced national development.

Some lawmakers also questioned the results, noting that Kyungpook National University received a B grade in the government's Glocal University project evaluation, while Chonnam National University and Chungnam National University, both selected for the latest initiative, received C and D grades, respectively.

Responding to the controversy over regional considerations, the education ministry said geography played no role in the selection process.

政府的“首尔十所国立大学”计划因教育部选定釜山国立大学、全南国立大学和忠南国立大学作为重点资助对象而引发争议。批评人士指出，该计划缺乏透明度，可能加剧各地区国立大学之间的不平等。教育部则表示，地理位置在遴选过程中并未起到任何作用。

这三所入选大学将分别获得700亿韩元的政府拨款，用于加强人工智能和区域战略产业方面的教育。

其他六所地区性旗舰国立大学将分别获得约 400 亿韩元的额外支持，用于本科教育改革和大学共享项目。

江原大学表示，该计划有可能将更广泛的目标变成仅支持三所大学的三个系，而韩国国立大学教授工会则警告说，这可能会在整个系统中巩固新的等级制度。

发布于2026年9月5日 上午7:00（韩国标准时间）

被排除在外的学校要求提高透明度，并警告称选择性拨款可能会加剧不平等。

教育部长崔教镇周二在首尔政府大楼宣布了政府扶持区域旗舰国立大学计划的入选院校名单。（韩联社）

政府创建“10所首尔国立大学”的计划在选定三所大学获得集中资助后，正面临越来越大的反对声浪，这引发了人们对遴选过程透明度的质疑，以及对该计划可能在地区性国立大学之间建立新的等级制度的担忧。

韩国教育部周二宣布，釜山国立大学、全南国立大学和忠南国立大学将作为该计划的首批受益院校。每所院校将获得700亿韩元（约合5100万美元）的政府拨款，用于推进人工智能及与区域战略重点相关的产业领域的教育发展。

虽然这三所入选大学将比去年多获得约 1000 亿韩元的政府拨款，但其他六所地区性旗舰国立大学每所仅能获得约 400 亿韩元的额外支持，用于本科教育改革和大学共享项目。

釜山、全南、忠南三所国立大学入选“10所首尔国立大学”计划

未被纳入该计划的大学警告说，到五年计划结束时，资金缺口可能会导致三所选定大学与其他国家大学在教育条件、学习环境和研究能力方面出现重大差距。

江原国立大学批评了目前将九所地区旗舰国立大学置于相互竞争，并优先资助其中三所的做法，称在各地区创建首尔国立大学水平的教育生态系统的更广泛目标，有可能被简化为仅仅在三所大学发展三个系。

教育部尚未具体说明哪些大学未来可以获得额外资助，或者可以获得多少资助，这引发了人们的担忧，即那些被排除在外的大学将被迫再次竞争资助。

韩国国立大学教授工会警告说，仅选择三所大学可能会在全国大学体系中建立并巩固新的等级制度。该工会敦促政府制定一项具体计划，以促进所有国立大学的更广泛发展。

评估标准也受到了审查。

庆北国立大学周四召开执行委员会会议，讨论对该决定的回应。

前一天，该大学教务委员会发表声明，呼吁教育部公开遴选过程和评估结果。声明指出，教育部应提供大学师生和当地居民都能接受的解释，包括如何根据教育和科研能力以及与区域产业的联系等标准对大学进行评估。

与此同时，这场争议也带上了政治色彩，因为这三所入选大学都位于由与韩国执政党共同民主党有关联的州长领导的地区。

代表大邱和庆尚北道的国民力量党议员周四举行新闻发布会，批评该地区被排除在该计划之外。这17名议员称，这一决定是又一种以国家均衡发展为名的地区歧视。

一些议员也对结果提出质疑，指出庆北国立大学在政府的“全球本土化大学”项目评估中获得了 B 级，而全南国立大学和忠南国立大学这两所入选最新计划的大学分别获得了 C 级和 D 级。

针对有关地域因素的争议，教育部表示，地理位置在选拔过程中没有起到任何作用。