The merger initiative between Chungnam National University and Kongju National University is at risk of failing after a recent vote among their members. While Kongju University saw a majority in favor of the merger, Chungnam University faced overwhelming opposition from its students and staff, leading to the proposal's rejection.
Both universities aimed for a merger to enhance their chances of being selected for the 'Glocal University 30' project, but they struggled to reach a consensus among their members, casting doubt on future project efforts.
The voting took place from September 8 to 10, with Chungnam University reporting a rejection of the merger proposal. After applying the voting weight, the results showed 46.58% in favor and 53.42% against. In contrast, Kongju University received strong support across all member groups, indicating a significant divide in opinions between the two institutions.
The primary reason for Chungnam University's rejection was the strong opposition from its students. Out of 24,346 members, 18,426 participated in the vote, achieving a turnout of 75.68%. Notably, 90.71% of undergraduate students (12,265) voted against the merger. Additionally, 67.29% of staff and teaching assistants opposed it, while 63.96% of faculty and 53.56% of graduate students supported the proposal, highlighting a clear disparity among different groups within the university.
The final tally, which combined the voting weights of faculty (50%), staff and teaching assistants (30%), undergraduates (15%), and graduate students (5%), resulted in a rejection of the merger.
Conversely, Kongju University experienced overwhelming support for the merger, with 11,824 out of 15,401 eligible voters participating, resulting in a turnout of 76.77%. Specifically, 71.56% of faculty (380), 62.34% of staff and teaching assistants (197), and 59.98% of students (6,584) voted in favor of the merger.
The outcome of this vote raises concerns for the 'Glocal University 30' project, as member consent is a prerequisite for the merger application. A representative from Kongju University expressed disappointment over the results, suggesting that some members of Chungnam University may have felt satisfied with their current status after being selected for a support program aimed at creating ten universities like Seoul National University, leading to doubts about the necessity of a challenging merger.
They also noted that ongoing issues, such as demands for improvements in the salary system from Chungnam University's union, likely contributed to the staff's opposition, while students appeared to harbor vague anxieties about the implications of a campus merger.
A representative from Chungnam University acknowledged that the faculty's support rate was similar to that during the previous application for the Glocal project but expressed concerns that if the merger fails, it could lead to the withdrawal of support funds or cancellation of the project.
Despite the rejection, both universities are not completely abandoning discussions about the merger. A representative from Kongju University stated, "Just because the proposal was rejected doesn't mean we will immediately cease discussions on the merger." They emphasized the need to better inform Chungnam University members about the benefits of the merger and the goals of the Glocal project, suggesting a follow-up process to clarify the opinions of those who opposed the merger.
Chungnam University remains cautious, stating, "We do not have specific plans in place yet." Both universities plan to analyze the feedback from their members closely and will soon announce their official stance on future directions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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