South Korea has taken the first step towards its ambitious ‘10 Seoul National Universities’ initiative, selecting Pusan National University, Chonnam National University and Chungnam National University as the first regional participants.

Each university will receive up to 70 billion won (around US$51 million) in government funding to strengthen education, research and collaboration with industry. The initiative aims to develop regional universities into hubs for talent, research and innovation, helping address the country’s long‑standing concentration of opportunities around Seoul.

AI is central to the strategy. The selected universities will develop programmes to train AI specialists and interdisciplinary talent, while applying AI to industries considered strategically important to their regions.

Three universities, three approaches

The three universities have developed plans reflecting their regional strengths.

Pusan National University plans to establish a convergence college covering industries including shipbuilding, marine engineering, mechanical systems and aerospace. It will also develop new industry‑linked programmes with companies including LG Electronics and Hanwha Group, establish an AI college and develop its Yangsan campus as an industrial AI research hub.

Chonnam National University will focus on advanced semiconductors and future energy through a new convergence college. It also plans to expand industry participation in education and research, including through partnerships involving Samsung Electronics and Korea Electric Power Corporation, while pursuing large‑scale AI transformation projects.

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