'10 SNUs' plan faces backlash over funding gap, selection process

The "10 Seoul National Universities" initiative, spearheaded by the government, is encountering significant opposition over funding disparities and the selection criteria for the selected institutions. Recently, the Ministry of Education announced that Pusan National University, Chonnam National University, and Chungnam National University would receive the initial funding.

Each of these universities will be allocated 70 billion won ($51 million) to bolster education in artificial intelligence and sectors aligned with regional strategic objectives.

While these three selected universities will see a substantial increase in funding, amounting to around 100 billion won more than they received in the previous year, the remaining six flagship national universities will only receive approximately 40 billion won each for enhancing undergraduate education reform and collaborative university programs.

Universities excluded from the program are expressing concerns that by the conclusion of the five-year initiative, a noticeable funding gap will emerge. They argue that the initiative could inadvertently establish a new hierarchy among regional national universities, potentially undermining the educational landscape and access to resources for those not selected.