InterviewJeonbuk National University banks on physical AI field to boost global competitiveness

Jeonbuk National University President Yang O-bong speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the university's main building in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Aug. 26. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Confronting demographic decline and intensifying global competition, Jeonbuk National University has set its sights on becoming a campus where international and domestic students study in equal numbers by 2035.

For Yang O-bong, the university’s president, realizing that vision hinges on building globally competitive strengths in specialized fields such as physical artificial intelligence (AI) — areas he believes can draw top students from both Korea and abroad.

“Some say we should cut university seats as student numbers fall, but shrinking enrollment only signals decline,” Yang said during an interview with The Korea Times. “Instead, we should count international students within the quota, making them part of the core campus community.”

Yang, who also chairs the Korean Council for University Education, said the real risk to national competitiveness comes from cutting university enrollment in response to demographic decline.

“Higher education drives national strength through research and talent,” he said. “That’s why international students should be part of the official enrollment system, following the example of U.S. universities that fully integrate foreign students into their student body.”

Aiming to attract 5,000 international students, Jeonbuk National University is overhauling its curricula and systems to integrate Korean and foreign students across all departments, while expanding its global network, deepening joint research partnerships and building broader platforms for industry-academic cooperation.

Officials including Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, middle, and Jeonbuk National University President Yang O-bong, third from right, pose at the launch ceremony of the Physical AI Research Ecosystem Project, Aug. 13. Courtesy of Jeonbuk National University

Yang stressed that regional flagships like Jeonbuk National University must build globally recognized specialties not only to draw top students but also to encourage them to settle down in the region.

“International students won’t come just because there are open seats,” he said. “What draws both foreign and domestic talent is the appeal of distinctive, world-class specialties.”

At the center of the university’s strategy is physical AI, which Yang describes as the “third and highest stage” of artificial intelligence.

While generative AI produces answers from data and AI agents can make and execute decisions, physical AI goes further by embedding intelligence directly into machines and systems — from humanoid robots to autonomous vehicles and smart factories that operate as self-regulating units.

“At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, experts predicted that physical AI will drive the next wave of innovation,” Yang said.

Even the United States and China are still only testing the field, he noted, which makes Korea’s early push especially meaningful.

“With Jeonbuk National University leading the creation of a physical AI valley in the region, we now stand on equal footing in the race to see which country takes the lead, which makes this project nationally significant,” he added.

In August, the university was designated as a lead institution for the government’s physical AI pilot project, backed by 1 trillion won ($721 million) in public funding. It has secured 21.9 billion won from the program to build advanced research and development infrastructure and position itself as the hub of Korea’s emerging physical AI ecosystem.

“This initiative will be a game changer for attracting international students,” Yang said. “It creates a platform that links global industry partnerships, advanced technology training and international joint research.”

Yang said the ultimate goal is to build a hub for physical AI that not only drives research and development but also attracts companies to set up production plants in the region. Once leading firms arrive, he believes that workers will follow and settle locally, creating a virtuous cycle in which industry, research and community growth reinforce one another.

Students take part in the Global Inbound Start-up Idea Camp for international students under the Glocal 30 initiative in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, June 23. Courtesy of Jeonbuk National University

Beyond building its academic specialties, Jeonbuk National University is focusing on helping international students put down roots in the region — a central pillar of its globalization strategy.

Rather than treating international students as short-term visitors, the university sees their long-term settlement as key to turning them into local residents and workers.

As part of its efforts, the university has formed a regional settlement support council for international students in partnership with North Jeolla Provincial Government.

The initiative includes job-linked curricula, start-up support programs and internships connected to local companies. The university is also working with 14 municipal governments across the province to expand cultural exchange activities, such as regional tours, so that students can integrate naturally into the community.

One of the most notable examples is the Glocal Campus now being developed in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, where the city and university are jointly creating a comprehensive system that combines education, housing, visa support and employment opportunities.

“Our goal is to ensure international students are not just here to study and leave,” Yang said. “We want them to become part of the community, contributing as residents and professionals who enrich the region.”

Jeonbuk National University President Yang O-bong, fourth from right, poses with officials from the National University of Engineering in Peru after signing a memorandum of understanding to establish an international center in Peru in August. Courtesy of Jeonbuk National University

On the government’s push to create “10 Seoul National Universities” by raising regional flagships to top-tier status, Yang said the vision is right but the resources are lacking.

He noted that Korea spends only about 67 percent of the OECD average on higher education, while channeling far more into primary and secondary schooling.

“Universities are the final stage of talent development,” he said. “If we want to compete globally, we need stronger investment in higher education.”

Despite the hurdles, Yang strikes an optimistic note. He cites the school’s research partnerships with the University of California, Davis and University of Georgia in agriculture and biotechnology, as well as new collaborations with Georgia Tech in defense convergence, as proof that the university is building global reach.

“The crisis facing Korean universities is undeniable,” he said. “But like the shipbuilding industry, which turned hardship into global leadership, higher education can turn demographic decline into a springboard for international excellence.”

Graphic by Bae So-young