Chungbuk National University and Korea National University of Transportation's proposed merger is facing uncertainty just one day before the Ministry of Education's submission deadline. Following the unprecedented cancellation of the 'Glocal University 30' designation, efforts to revive the merger through a phased approach have stalled due to entrenched interests and disagreements.
If the merger fails to materialize by the deadline tomorrow, concerns are growing over the potential recovery of hundreds of millions in government funding and the resulting division within the local higher education ecosystem.
According to the Ministry of Education and university sources, after three years of discussions, the two universities have decided to temporarily halt the merger process due to unresolved differences. They had initially planned to hold a vote on the merger among their members on September 29 and 30, but the schedule was canceled after failing to reach a consensus.
The core issues of contention include the method of diploma issuance for current students and the criteria for faculty promotion evaluations. Although both universities sought a phased integration plan, with administrative unification in March 2024 and academic integration by March 2028, their positions remained far apart.
With the deadline for submitting the merger application approaching, it is widely believed that reaching an agreement and submitting the necessary documents on time is no longer feasible.
If the merger ultimately fails, the financial repercussions could be severe. The two universities were previously selected for the 'Glocal University 30' initiative based on the assumption of a merger, but their designation was revoked in July due to poor performance, jeopardizing access to 100 billion won in future funding over five years.
Moreover, if the merger is officially abandoned, there is a significant risk that they will have to return government funds that were advanced based on the merger premise.
Education officials estimate that if the merger is confirmed to be unsuccessful, Chungbuk National University could face a recovery of about 18 billion won, while Korea National University of Transportation could owe around 13 billion won. However, the funds subject to recovery would only pertain to those allocated for the merger process, not the total government support received.
As the population of school-age children declines, the prospect of returning hundreds of millions in funds could severely impact the overall operation of the universities. Chungbuk National University, in particular, may face significant disadvantages in major financial support initiatives, such as being selected as a leading university for the '10 Seoul National Universities' project next year.
Concerns over the merger's failure are already manifesting in severe internal divisions and declining admissions metrics. At Korea National University of Transportation, some members are demanding the president's resignation, blaming him for the merger's failure, and there are signs that the process for selecting a new president may be expedited.
Additionally, the internal conflicts are affecting prospective students, with a reported 4% decrease in applicants for this year's admissions compared to last year.
Both universities have seen a noticeable drop in applicant numbers.
Disappointment is also growing in the community, which had hoped for regional innovation through the merger. Local political figures and civil society groups are criticizing the universities for engaging in nearly three years of unproductive debates, resulting in conflict, distrust, and the looming threat of funding recovery.
A local university official expressed concern, stating, "If a dramatic resolution is not reached with just one day left, the fallout from the merger's failure and the financial shock could severely undermine the competitiveness of universities across the Chungcheong region."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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