[Column] The Push for Gongju National University Integration Is a Decision Against Balanced Regional Development

Im Dalhee, Chairman of Gongju City Council

The glocal university project, premised on the integration of Gongju National University and Chungnam National University, has been preliminarily selected, with a timeline set for the launch of the integrated university in 2028. As this news spreads, deep concerns are growing throughout the local community. As a citizen of Gongju and as the representative of the Gongju City Council, I clearly express my opposition to this integration initiative. There is increasing worry that, if the integration becomes a reality, it will not simply be an administrative procedure but could shake the entire identity and future foundation of Gongju.

For over 80 years, Gongju National University has been at the heart of Gongju’s education, culture, and economy. The city earned its reputation as an “educational city” because Gongju National University existed here. Countless students and their families have come to this place, sustaining the local economy, while the city’s image as an educational hub has also developed. Local residents have regarded Gongju National University not merely as a school, but as a symbol of Gongju itself. This precious symbol and foundation must never be weakened under the name of university integration.

However, if the university integration proceeds, it is widely expected that overlapping departments will be merged and students will inevitably be relocated to the Daejeon campus. Currently, about 16,000 students are enrolled at Gongju National University, and about half of its departments overlap with those at Chungnam National University. Even if only some of these are transferred, thousands of students would leave Gongju, which is highly likely to lead to population decline and reduced local consumption.

Gongju City is already facing a demographic crisis, with an aging population and the outflow of young people. In particular, students at Gongju National University have made tangible contributions to maintaining the city’s population through various benefits such as settlement support and relocation grants. As of September, more than 2,000 students have received such support. The fact that university members have chosen to stay in the region has been a key force supporting Gongju’s sustainability. However, if integration becomes a reality and students’ daily lives shift to Daejeon, all the efforts Gongju has made to maintain its population could collapse overnight.

A university is not simply an educational institution; it is the foundation of the local community and a core infrastructure for population retention. The issue of integrating national universities is not just about enhancing competitiveness between universities, but is directly linked to national tasks such as balanced regional development and preventing the decline of local areas. Gongju National University, as a leading national university in the Chungcheong region, has long fostered local talent and supported the regional economy with pride. If the functions of such a university are transferred elsewhere under the pretext of integration, it would undermine the very foundation of Gongju City, and I cannot agree with this.

What is needed now is not a hasty integration, but an independent development strategy that preserves Gongju National University’s unique identity and role while securing its future competitiveness. Rather than pursuing policies based on the premise of integration, Gongju National University’s vision for growth alongside the local community should be presented first. Gongju National University should not be an object of integration, but a principal agent of regional development.

Gongju National University is the future of Gongju and a precious asset that we all must protect. If changes to the university are necessary, they must be made under the principles of mutual prosperity and balanced regional development. The direction must be one that citizens, students, and the local community can all support.

Going forward, the Gongju City Council will do its utmost to ensure that the voices of citizens are fully reflected. Together with the will of Gongju’s citizens, we will continue to oppose the integration of Gongju National University and stand firm to protect Gongju National University, the pride and educational center of Gongju.

Im Dalhee, Chairman of Gongju City Council

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