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National universities start new chapters as merged institutions in spring 2026 semester

Published: 03 Mar. 2026, 11:24 Updated: 03 Mar. 2026, 17:11

LEE TAE-HEE
[email protected]

Kangwon National University holds an entrance ceremony as a merged institution on Feb. 27. [KANGWON NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

March marks a fresh new start for students, and many national universities are also beginning new chapters by opening as merged institutions ahead of the spring 2026 semester.

Kangwon National University and Gangneung-Wonju National University officially opened as a merged institution on Sunday, with Kangwon National University being the surviving name.

Jeong Jae-yeon, who was the president of Kangwon National University when it was an individual institution, will continue to lead the newly integrated university. The presidents for each of its four campuses — Chuncheon and Samcheok, formerly under Kangwon National University, and Gangneung and Wonju, previously part of Gangneung-Wonju National University — are taking on roles similar to those of a vice president.

"The merged Kangwon National University will be an institution that can lead the innovation of Korea's higher education," said Jeong. "By providing the nation's biggest support and infrastructure, we will help students get a world-class education without having to go study in the greater Seoul area, growing into talent that can lead development in our region."

In 2023, the government selected Kangwon National University and Gangneung-Wonju National University for the Glocal University 30 funding project, with the condition that the two institutions merge. The funding project aims to help universities outside the greater Seoul area maintain a competitive edge, offering funding of around 100 billion won ($68 million) over five years.

A sign with the Kangwon National University name is installed at the former Gangneung-Wonju National University's Gangneung campus on Feb. 13, referring it as the Kangwon National University Ganeung campus. [YONHAP]

Having four campuses, each will focus on different areas of study and research.

The Chuncheon campus will specialize in precision medicine, biohealth and data science, while the Gangneung campus will concentrate on advanced materials technology, marine biotechnology and tourism. The Samcheok campus will focus on energy-related fields such as liquid hydrogen, as well as age tech, an interdisciplinary program applying technology for elderly health care. The Wonju campus will focus on semiconductors, digital health care, e-mobility and smart manufacturing.

However, some academic programs will span across campuses.

Those designated as Top Class Integrated Departments — the name given to majors with more than 100 students and existing at multiple campuses — will be managed by their respective campuses. However, the departments' students will be able to take courses from a joint curriculum, with courses delivered both online and in person, allowing students to attend lectures at multiple campuses.

One example is the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, which will offer joint classes across the Chuncheon and Wonju campuses.

There are also majors such as the Department of Japanese Studies and the Department of Social Welfare, referred to as Glocal Integrated Departments. Similar to Top Class Integrated Departments, they also offer joint curricula across campuses despite not having 100 students per department.

As the two national universities formally opened as a merged institution, Jeong stressed the need to foster a sense of unity.

“We must strive to make people feel we are one, going beyond mere physical unification," he said in a letter to students and faculty on Tuesday. "Misunderstandings and conflicts are natural in the process of integration, but they also serve as important opportunities for us to reflect on ourselves. By embracing differences and acknowledging that we can develop solidarity, we will be able to share a sense of being one community.”

Mokpo National University and Jeonnam State University have also merged in the spring 2026 semester, with Mokpo National University being the surviving name.

Jeonnam State University was a junior college, and the merged institution will continue to offer associate degrees alongside the bachelor's degrees traditionally offered at the former Mokpo National University.

The Dorim campus, the main campus of the newly merged institution, will be used to host classes and research for the university's four-year bachelor's programs. The Damyang campus, formerly used by Jeonnam State University, will host classes for the university's two-year programs.

"2026 is the year when we will officially go forth with the merged university's new system," said Song Ha-cheol, president of Mokpo National University. "We will establish an educational environment and support system that can help our students grow into creative and interdisciplinary talents.”

Celebrating the opening as a merged institution, the university will hold an entrance ceremony for its first-year students on Tuesday.

Changwon National University's campus in Changwon, South Gyeongsang [CHANGWON NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

Changwon National University has also merged with two junior colleges for the spring 2026 semester — the University of Gyeongnam Geochang and the University of Gyeongnam Namhae — with Changwon National University being the surviving name.

Like Kangwon National University, Mokpo National University and Changwon National University's mergers all follow being selected for the Glocal University 30 funding program on condition that they merge with the junior colleges. The two coalitions were selected for funding in 2024.

The newly merged Changwon National University will offer both associate and bachelor's degree programs. The university’s Geochang campus — formerly used by the University of Gyeongnam Geochang — will focus on programs in health care, AI and drones. The Namhae campus — formerly used by the University of Gyeongnam Namhae — will focus on tourism, hotel management and landscape architectural design.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [[email protected]]