Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has decided to freeze undergraduate tuition for the 2026 academic year. The decision aims to fulfill its social responsibility as a flagship university leading regional development and to share social burdens amid difficult economic conditions.

This tuition freeze marks the 18th consecutive year since 2009 for JBNU. In 2012, the university reduced undergraduate tuition by 5.6%.

JBNU held a tuition deliberation committee meeting on January 8 to discuss whether to set tuition. The committee members agreed that, despite the university's very difficult financial situation due to the long-standing tuition freeze, minimizing the financial burden on students and their families is the responsibility of a regional flagship national university in light of mounting economic pressures such as high inflation.

However, to address structural fiscal deterioration and budget shortfalls caused by the sharp decline in the school-age population, the university plans to expand participation in government funding programs, secure research funding, and raise development funds, among other efforts to diversify revenue sources.

President Yang O-bong said, "As our university aims to be a flagship institution leading regional development, we decided to freeze tuition for the 18th consecutive year to minimize the economic burden on students and their families." He added, "We will actively attract and utilize government education support programs and development funds to ensure that the tuition freeze does not affect the quality of student education or employment support."