[Asia Exclusive] "Concerns Over New Government's Divisive Local University Revitalization Policy"

Concerns Over Delegating Local University Administrative and Financial Authority to Local Governments
University Fate Dependent on Mayor and Governor Relationships
Criticism of Education Neglect Theory: "Ministries of Education and Science & ICT Have Different Directions"

Hong Won-hwa, Chairman of the Korea Council for University Education, is being interviewed on the 6th at the Korea Council for University Education in Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The theory of neglecting education, which emerged during the launch process of the new government transition committee, is clearly reflected in the national agenda. In particular, there are significant concerns about the plan to delegate administrative and financial authority of regional universities to the Regional Higher Education Committee.

Hong Won-hoe, chairman of the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE), said, "Out of 110 tasks, only five are related to higher education. Even the measures to revive regional universities are worrisome as they seem like a 'divide and share' approach. We need to address issues such as measures for private universities struggling to recruit students and structural reforms, but it is questionable how the Regional Higher Education Committee can solve these problems."

There is especially strong negative public opinion regarding the new government's national agenda to delegate administrative and financial authority over regional universities from the central government to the Regional Higher Education Committee. The transition committee announced that local governments, regional universities, and local industries will participate in the Regional Higher Education Committee.

Chairman Hong pointed out, "It is concerning that this could be influenced by the personal relationships of local governors. Universities facing financial difficulties will inevitably become the 'tongue of the proposal' for mayors and governors." He added, "Every four years, university presidents or executives might join local government leaders' campaign teams and be mobilized for fundraising activities."

In a situation where structural adjustment is inevitable due to the declining school-age population, transferring authority to local governments could ultimately create a situation where 'the monk cannot shave his own head.'

Hong said, "If professors from financially struggling universities are included in the committee, they will defend their own universities, and the committee will inevitably go off track. It is obvious that restructuring such as department reorganization will become difficult. I doubt whether the chairman can tell a specific university to shut down."

Hong also clearly opposed the transition committee’s theory of neglecting and merging the Ministry of Education. He said, "I have repeatedly visited the transition committee for a month to convey the position that the Ministry of Education should not be abolished. The educational goals pursued by the Ministry of Education and those pursued by the Ministry of Science and ICT are inevitably different. How can a country that aims to produce Nobel laureates actually produce any if the Ministry of Education is abolished?"

Hong stated, "This one year is a more important moment than the two-year term before and after. I consider the one month as equivalent to fulfilling the role of one year. Higher education will suffer a truly decisive blow due to the declining school-age population. If we do not establish good rules over the next ten years, a very difficult situation will occur. The KCUE must play a major role."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.