In 2020, 21 education‑research teams were selected for the 4th Phase BK21 Project. Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), President Kim Dong‑won, which has devoted itself to strengthening research capacity in core academic fields and training specialists, held a results forum on the 12th to share and disseminate its achievements.

Under the theme "Let Our Knowledge Contribute to the Region and the World!", the forum featured a keynote speech by Choi Haecheon, Executive Vice‑President of Research at Seoul National University, followed by presentations of best practices from the 21 BK21 education‑research teams and the Graduate School Innovation Project.

In his keynote, Choi Haecheon presented directions for graduate school development under the theme "Changes in the BK21 Project and Its Orientation," proposing the cultivation of world‑class graduate programs to raise the academic, research, and education standards of Korean universities and to enhance national competitiveness.

Following this, JBNU's 4th Phase BK21 education‑research teams presented their past achievements and best practices. The outcomes of initiatives to support researchers through the Graduate School Innovation Project were also presented, including scholarships (BK Dream Scholarships), education (Geonji courses, etc.), research (Geonji Research Support Project), and environmental improvements (support for research equipment for education‑research teams).

Through the 4th Phase BK21 Project, JBNU aims to nurture "great persons" and "outstanding figures" who can meet contemporary demands — accountability in education, public education reform, strengthening global competitiveness, and regional development — and to position itself as a "Glocal Research‑Centered University" that will lead both the region and the world, thereby driving the university's competitiveness at a global level.

At today's forum, in addition to an outstanding performance presentation by the BK21 Project JIANT‑IT Human Resource Development Project Group, 20 other best practices were presented, drawing broad public interest. A compilation of best practices was also distributed to share the outcomes. The JBNU 4th Phase BK21 Project involves 234 faculty members, 633 graduate students, 32 early‑career researchers, and 2 industry‑liaison staff.

In his opening remarks, Cha Yeon‑su, Dean of the Graduate School, said, "The 4th Phase BK21 Project is advancing the cultivation of future and innovative talents to strengthen research capacity in core academic fields, and is implementing research‑friendly structural reforms to enable a leap to a world‑class research‑oriented university. Our university will train excellent master's and doctoral‑level talents who can proactively respond to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and social structural changes and thereby contribute to regional and national development."