Jeonbuk National University (JBNU)-affiliated Institute for Public Conflict and Local Innovation (Director Ha Dong-hyun) and the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Rural and Fisheries Comprehensive Support Center (Center Director Song Byung-cheol) have signed a memorandum of understanding and begun full-scale mutual cooperation to address regional conflict issues and promote local innovation.

At a ceremony held recently in the seminar room of the Jeonbuk Samrak Local Market, under the agreement the two institutions agreed to actively cooperate to promote education, research and surveys related to regional conflict issues (public conflict and rural community conflict) and local innovation; academic events on local innovation; human resource exchanges, including training to develop specialized personnel such as researchers, negotiators and mediation experts in the field of regional conflict; and collaboration on current regional conflict issues and on-site advisory services.

Attending the signing ceremony were representatives of both institutions, including Professor Ahn Guk-chan (Department of Public Administration, Executive Vice-President of Foreign Affairs and Professional Affairs), Professor Joo Sang-hyun (Department of Public Administration), Researcher Kim Su-yong and other representatives from the JBNU institute side, and key officials of the Support Center such as Director Kang Young-seok and Manager Jeong Yoon-hyung.

Director Ha Dong-hyun (Department of Public Administration, JBNU) stated, "I hope this MOU will serve as an opportunity to investigate and seek solutions to the various community problems—public conflict and rural community conflicts—that are latent or emerging in rural areas, and ultimately contribute to revitalizing the region."

The Institute for Public Conflict and Local Innovation was designated in December 2022 by the Office for Government Policy Coordination as a 'Conflict Management Research Institution,' the first such designation outside the Seoul metropolitan area. It provides conflict management education for local governments, local councils and local public enterprises. 

In 2023, it achieved the result of providing conflict management training to 23 public institutions and approximately 1,060 public officials. It is deepening research and practical work related to conflict prevention and resolution at public institutions and operates various programs aimed at contributing to conflict resolution, consensus building and regional integration at the national and community levels.