Jeonbuk National University selected for state-funded humanities, social sciences research project

The Jeonbuk National University campus in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Jeonbuk National University

Jeonbuk National University has been selected for a state-funded humanities and social sciences research project as part of an effort to foster regional universities for balanced national development, the school said Wednesday.

With a total budget of 20 billion won, the “Support Project for University Research Institutes in Humanities and Social Sciences” is a key initiative aimed at establishing regional hubs for basic research in the humanities and social sciences at flagship national universities and nurturing talent in nonmetropolitan areas.

The Ministry of Education plans to provide three selected universities, including Jeonbuk National University, with 4 billion won each annually for five years.

Jeonbuk National University said it has earned recognition for its differentiated strategy and research capabilities by presenting a detailed plan to build a humanities and social sciences research institute focused on Honam studies and to cultivate future convergence talent in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) transformation.

Honam studies is an academic field that examines the history, culture, society and other aspects of the Honam region — including North and South Jeolla provinces — from the perspective of regional studies.

The school noted that it has received high scores for its strategy of combining the rich cultural and historical assets unique to the Honam region — including Mahan culture, the Donghak movement and pansori (a traditional Korean musical style) — with responses to structural regional social challenges such as population decline and superaging, along with large-scale research in physical AI technologies.

The university has disclosed a plan to launch a Jeonbuk Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences next month by integrating its existing research institutes in the field of the humanities and social sciences as a core regional research hub, while creating a system for autonomous operation.

Cultivating locally-based research talent is also a central pillar of the project. The university unveiled a plan to recruit a large number of outstanding doctoral-level research professors in phases and provide generous support measures, including stable salaries, housing assistance and fellowships for independent research projects.

An aerial view of the Jeonbuk National University campus in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Jeonbuk National University

“This project selection represents the successful outcome of our strategies to foster basic academic disciplines and strengthen research competitiveness proactively through the previously selected Glocal University 30 initiative,” said Yang O-bong, president of the university.

The Glocal University 30 initiative is a government-led program designed to designate and support 30 universities located in nonmetropolitan areas. The term “Glocal” is a portmanteau of “global” and “local,” signifying a dual focus on globalization and localization.

“Building on this foundation, we will dramatically enhance the competitiveness of our institution as one of the flagship national universities,” Yang added.

He said he will make efforts to transform Jeonbuk National University into a global hub for interdisciplinary and convergent research in the humanities and social sciences, while nurturing talent in regional areas.

For this, he plans to establish a successful model for the government’s initiative to elevate 10 national universities in nonmetropolitan areas to a level comparable to Seoul National University.