Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) President Yang O-bong held a one-year anniversary press briefing at 11:00 a.m. on February 28 to review achievements over the past year and to announce plans for future university operations.

At the briefing, President Yang personally presented JBNU’s vision under the theme "A Global Flagship University Leading Regional Development," outlining past achievements and detailing innovation measures to realize the flagship university that will lead regional co-prosperity.

President Yang first emphasized the importance of universities’ roles in regional development, citing the number of entrepreneurs produced by major U.S. universities such as Stanford over the past decade and examples from domestic universities. He stated that JBNU and Jeonbuk National University Hospital, composed of approximately 8,000 staff members and some 21,000 students, generate a far greater economic contribution to the region than major local governments and companies—such as the Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province with about 5,500 people, Jeonju City with about 2,300 people, and Hyundai Motor’s Jeonju Plant with about 4,040 people.

Based on an analysis using Statistics Korea data and the Hankook Ilbo’s university student living-cost report, an analysis of JBNU members’ annual spending estimated that, including the university hospital, staff spending amounts to KRW 319.6 billion and student spending to KRW 24.7 billion, for a total annual consumption of KRW 344.3 billion.

According to JBNU’s analysis of the 2023 contribution of research funding by institution, JBNU secured KRW 218.6 billion in external research funding last year. This was accompanied by matching funds of KRW 88 million from Jeollabuk-do, KRW 77 million from Jeonju City, and KRW 26 million from other local governments.

In particular, JBNU’s acquisition of external research funding actively employed young people participating in research, creating employment effects for a total of 3,909.7 persons, including staff, researchers, and students. The resulting consumption effect was estimated at KRW 55.12 billion.

In the case of regional youth, population outflow occurs both at the university-entry stage and the job-seeking stage. By employing young people in research positions, JBNU is preventing the regional outflow of youth and taking the lead in creating systems that enable them to settle locally.

He pointed out the need for a dramatic expansion of local government support by comparing UC Berkeley’s total budget of KRW 3.6 trillion—of which state government support accounts for 14% (KRW 504 billion)—with JBNU’s total budget of KRW 550 billion, of which local government support accounts for only 2.5% (KRW 14.2 billion).

President Yang presented JBNU’s achievements and vision over the past year in pursuit of becoming a flagship university leading regional development.

He stated, "Securing national budget totaling KRW 625.6 billion—including the RIS Project worth KRW 214.5 billion for regional innovation, the Glocal University 30 Project with KRW 200.0 billion, the KRW 34.0 billion Semiconductor Specialization University support project, and selection for the KRW 16.4 billion Advanced Innovation Convergence University project—was a major accomplishment. We also signed 141 MOUs to build a solid cooperation foundation for leaping to a flagship university: 20 with local governments, 58 with industry, 21 with research institutions and universities, and 42 with overseas universities and major institutions for strengthening global capabilities."

To create student-centered, future-oriented education, last year JBNU reorganized the former Executive Vice-President for External Cooperation into the Executive Vice-President of Foreign Affairs and Professional Affairs, established the Office of Student Career Support for big-data-based employment support, and set up the Office of Educational Innovation to formulate AI education-innovation strategies. JBNU also abolished grade requirements for applications to double majors/minors and strengthened student-designed major curricula, thereby establishing a student-centered academic system that enhances students’ freedom to choose their majors—an achievement President Yang highlighted.

Through these changes and innovations, JBNU achieved remarkable external evaluations last year, including ranking first among national flagship universities in JoongAng Ilbo’s comprehensive university evaluation, first among non-capital region universities, and fourth nationally in the World University Impact assessment.

In addition, close, student-focused welfare and communication initiatives—such as the KRW 1,000 breakfast program, 3·3 Day, snack-sharing events, and an international student festival—helped JBNU secure first place for the fifth consecutive year in the Korea Standard Association’s Service Quality Index for student welfare.

President Yang placed greatest significance on JBNU’s successful selection for the Glocal University 30 Project, a long-cherished goal for all regional universities, and affirmed that JBNU will implement the vision of a flagship university that leads the region toward the future and the world through this project.

He announced plans to regionalize the current 106 recruitment units to 43 units next year and to 24 units for the 2028 academic year. He also pledged to expand the current 1,979 international students to 5,000 by 2028. For innovation in government–industry–university cooperation, JBNU will establish the "JUIC Triangle (JBNU University‑Industry City Triangle)," centered on Saemangeum, Jeonju–Wanju, and Iksan–Jeongeup, to foster advanced industrial sectors prioritized by Jeollabuk-do.

JBNU plans to upcycle the closed Seonam University campus site into a JBNU Glocal Campus for international students and to operate demand‑driven Korean language institutes. The site will also be used as an incubator space for startups related to Namwon’s specialized industries, such as pansori, cosmetics, traditional woodenware, and drones.

President Yang pledged to pursue innovations aimed at entering the top 10 domestically and the top 100 globally within 10 years. To that end, JBNU has selected 10 leading academic fields—five frontier areas (materials science and agriculture/forestry, chemical engineering, mechanical/aerospace/manufacturing engineering, and environmental science) and five leap areas (physics/astronomy, life sciences, electrical/electronic engineering, chemistry, and medicine)—to drive global research outcomes that will enable entry into the QS World University Rankings by subject top 100.

This year, JBNU set a goal to enter the global top 100 in two subject areas. While fulfilling its responsibilities as a national flagship university, JBNU will also actively nurture regionally specialized fields and basic-protection academic areas to strengthen its role as a flagship university that promotes national and regional industrial development.

Declaring this year the inaugural year of a student-centered university, JBNU will invest KRW 10.5 billion by 2025 to build next-generation information systems for next-generation education, including AI. JBNU also aims to raise the employment rate—already rising from 54.7% in 2019 to 62.3% in 2023—to 66% this year by strengthening student career support using AI, with the goal of achieving the highest employment rate among national flagship universities.

To expand finances and enhance global image, on its 77th anniversary JBNU will strive to raise KRW 7.7 billion this year through development fund campaigns. JBNU will support the successful hosting of the World Korean Business Conference, organized by Jeollabuk-do this year, and will promote JBNU’s superior medical capabilities globally by providing health checkups, dermatology, and dental services to visiting international business leaders.

President Yang O-bong stated, "JBNU envisions a future in which the university, regional universities, regional industry, and local governments can all prosper together through educational innovation, innovation in regional and industry–university cooperation, and global innovation. We will not be complacent with current achievements; we will continue to pursue change and innovation so that the university’s positive influence reaches every household in the Jeollabuk region."