[2026 National Assembly Audit] "Concerns Over Effectiveness of Pusan National University-Busan National University of Education Merger"... Calls for Improvements

At the National Assembly Education Committee's audit on the 21st

Citing the Jeju National University-Jeju National University of Education case

"Can the goal be achieved through cross-campus classes alone?"

With Pusan National University and Busan National University of Education set to merge in March 2027, lawmakers called during a parliamentary audit for a review of preparations for the merger, the effectiveness of cross-campus courses, and the implementation of agreements between the two universities.

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Heejung said at a National Assembly Education Committee audit held at Pusan National University on October 21, "We need to examine whether the goal of comprehensive teacher education can be achieved through cross-campus courses alone while the campuses remain physically separate."

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Heejung. Photo by Kim Hyunmin.

Referring to the case of Jeju National University and Jeju National University of Education, which merged earlier, Kim said, "Over 18 years, only three students from Jeju National University's College of Education took courses offered by Jeju National University of Education, while the reverse happened in just 157 cases."

Asked whether they had reviewed the record of cross-campus courses at Jeju National University, Lee Seok-hee, acting president of Busan National University of Education, replied, "We were unable to investigate." Pusan National University President Choi Jae-won responded that the Jeju case did not appear to have been successful.

The operation of the administrative organization after the merger was also raised. Regarding the plan to establish integrated administrative offices at the Busan and Yeonje campuses, Kim said, "If the administrative management system is left unchanged, is this a real merger, or is it just a merger in name?"

Assemblyman Jeong Seong-guk noted that the merger could appear to be Pusan National University absorbing Busan National University of Education, and urged the university to make greater efforts to address the education university's demands and implement the merger agreements.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.