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Jeonbuk National University reports tangible results in academic system reform
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By
Park Yoon-bae
Published
May 8, 2026 3:00 pm
KST
‘Glocal University 30’ initiative successfully implemented
The Jeonbuk National University campus in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Jeonbuk National University
Jeonbuk National University said Thursday that it has produced tangible results in its academic system reform as reflected in improved indicators in the 2026 admissions cycle.
Major indicators — including the number of applicants, competition rates and academic performance of admitted students — rose with the successful implementation of a policy aimed at expanding students’ choice of majors through the broader integration of recruitment units, according to the school.
The results demonstrated that the university has successfully implemented the government-led “Glocal University 30” initiative designed to designate and support 30 universities located in nonmetropolitan areas. “Glocal” is a portmanteau of global and local, implying a push for globalization and localization simultaneously.
According to the university’s analysis of its 2026 admissions results, the number of applicants for the early admissions process — which mainly evaluates students based on their high school academic records — increased to 24,760 in the 2026 academic year from 23,876 the previous year.
Consequently, the overall competition rate for admissions went up to 7.8 to 1 from the previous academic year’s 7.6 to 1, indicating growing interest in the North Jeolla-based university.
The university reported an improvement in the academic performance of admitted students. It also attracted more students from the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungcheong provinces, showing that its nationwide recruitment base has expanded.
As a result, Jeonbuk National is emerging as a nationally recognized university rather than merely a regional institution.
An aerial view of the Jeonbuk National University campus in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Jeonbuk National University
“The large-scale restructuring of our academic system, which we have pursued under the Glocal University 30 initiative to create a student-centered university, is generating a virtuous cycle of increased applicants, higher competition rates, and improved academic performance,” said Yang O-bong, president of the university.
He added that he plans to further advance the student-centered university system through educational innovation linked to industry demand and the expansion of students’ freedom to choose majors.
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