Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) officially apologized to the university community and to the residents of Jeonbuk for not being included among the selected targets for the 'Create 10 Universities Like Seoul National University' package support project, and stated it will do its best to ensure the project can be implemented as planned.

On the 3rd, JBNU President Yang Oh-bong said, 'JBNU was not selected for the S10 project announced by the Ministry of Education on September 1,' and added, 'As president, I deeply apologize to the JBNU community and to the residents of Jeonbuk.'

JBNU said it prepared the project proposal not as an abstract declaration but with an emphasis on cultivating talent closely aligned with Jeonbuk's growth engines and on establishing ultra-regional and global collaboration networks among local, industry, academia, and research partners.

JBNU centered its plan on Hyundai Motor Group's Saemangeum KRW 9 trillion investment plan. The proposal detailed implementation measures focused on the AI data center promoted by Hyundai Motor Group, Physical AI, green hydrogen energy, and robot foundries, designed so that JBNU graduates could be recruited by 2029.

Because the plan was aligned with Hyundai Motor Group's phased investment roadmap and the timing of talent recruitment, it proposed a virtuous cycle leading from the success of the Saemangeum investment to strengthened industrial competitiveness in Jeonbuk and, ultimately, national development.

In particular, during the planning process Hyundai Motor Group, local governments in the province, and the entire university formed one team. JBNU completed full preparations to foster talent and grow regional strategic industries, including signing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with 139 organizations from industry, academia, research, and government, which included 68 companies.

Beyond this 'Jeonbuk One Team,' JBNU built an ultra-regional collaboration network with institutions in the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul National University, Korea University, KIST), the central region (KAIST), and the southwest region (GIST, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology). It also established an internationalization foundation by forming cooperation networks with world-renowned institutions and companies, including Purdue University in the United States, Boeing, Thales of France, and BAE Systems of the United Kingdom.

JBNU submitted the main project proposal, a detailed 150-page document, and 200 pages of supplementary materials on August 7. The university also expressed bewilderment and regret that the results were announced unusually only about 20 days after submission without the customary presentation and evaluation that typically accompany large national R&D programs.

President Yang stated, 'The JBNU project plan is an actionable plan that links Hyundai Motor Group's Saemangeum investment with the timing of talent development, research and development, and industry demand. It is highly unusual that the announcement was made without a presentation and evaluation to properly explain the project; for that reason, we are bewildered and very regretful.'

He added, 'Although I feel conflicted as president, I will not stop the university's role in the development of Jeonbuk and the Republic of Korea. We will do our utmost to train the talent and carry out the research and development needed to lead regional strategic industries, and we will make every effort to pursue additional selections for the "Create 10 Universities Like Seoul National University" project. I ask for the continued interest and support of the JBNU community and the residents of Jeonbuk.'