President Yang Oh-bong explained Jeonbuk National University (JBNU)'s role and innovation strategies for regional development to representatives of small but strong enterprises from Jeonbuk and others at the JB Future Forum held on the 24th at 5:00 p.m. at the Jeongeup Jeonbuk Bank Training Institute.

In the special lecture, President Yang diagnosed the crisis facing regions and regional universities, cited overseas university cases regarded as exemplary models of regional mutual prosperity, and presented JBNU's present situation and future vision as it moves toward innovation to promote regional development.

President Yang pointed to the situation in Jeollabuk-do, which faces a severe risk of regional disappearance — for example, the population, which was 2.52 million in the 1960s, has fallen by more than 30% — and cited phenomena such as the reversal between the number of high‑school seniors and university admissions quotas due to the sharp decline in the school‑age population. He warned that "if the university does not change, students will leave; if students leave, the university will inevitably close; and if the university closes, the region will ultimately disappear."

He also cited examples such as the University of Wisconsin, North Carolina (which achieved regional development through the U.S. Research Triangle Park), Arizona State University, which rose to second in the world innovation rankings through bold reforms, Aalto University in Finland, recognized for excellence with an entrepreneurship‑centered curriculum, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, which grew into a world‑class university through proactive cooperation from local government. He used these cases to emphasize JBNU's innovation as it moves toward becoming a flagship university leading regional development.

President Yang stated that "last year JBNU was selected for the Glocal University 30 project, which provided an opportunity to leap forward as a flagship university that will lead Jeonbuk and regional universities toward the future and the world. We will attract outstanding international students to increase local residency and settlement population, drive regional industrial development, and revitalize the regional economy through regional regeneration."

To this end, he announced plans to attract 5,000 international students and to reach the global top‑100 in 10 academic fields — five leading areas such as materials science, agriculture/forestry, and chemical engineering, and five leap areas such as physics & astronomy, life sciences, and electrical & electronic engineering. Through establishing a Jeonbuk university–industry–city triangle, he said JBNU will cultivate secondary battery, K‑defense, and semiconductor industries in Saemangeum–Gunsan; agro‑life and green hydrogen industries in Jeonju and Wanju; and pet bio and veterinary pharmaceutical industries in Iksan–Jeongeup. JBNU will also engage in joint research and train customized specialized personnel required by companies.

He added that JBNU is exploring the establishment of a JBNU Regional Development Research Institute to serve as the head forum for regional development, the creation of municipal research institutes to act as think tanks addressing problems for the 14 cities and counties, and the regeneration of the closed Seonam University campus and measures to revitalize the Namwon area to address regional issues caused by Seonam University's closure.

President Yang urged, "JBNU's bold changes and innovations to become a flagship university reflect our determination to take the lead in regional development. I ask for your continued interest and support so that JBNU can, based on painful but necessary reforms, make greater strides as a flagship university that grows together with the region."