[Reporter’s Note] The Absurd “Regret” of Jeju National University President

The controversy over the closure of the College of Future Convergence at Jeju National University, first reported in this newspaper on April 3 under the headline "Jeju National University Declares Abandonment of Lifelong Education... Faculty and Staff Protest," is escalating toward a crisis, fueled by the president's lack of communication and administrative incompetence.

Kim Ilhwan, President of Jeju National University, expressed strong regret in a press conference belatedly held on April 9, pointedly excluding this newspaper, which first raised the issue. He stated, "I deeply regret the way it has been portrayed that the College of Future Convergence is being abolished and lifelong education is being abandoned."

However, during the reporting process, the journalist repeatedly requested fact-checking from the relevant officials, but was unable to reach them. Only after the controversy spread throughout the local community did the university hold a press conference to provide an explanation. Excluding the media outlet that broke the story can only be seen as a denial of the reporting process and the journalist involved.

For the week prior to the press conference, the university's response to the media was virtually unplanned. On April 7, the dean of the College of Future Convergence, who also serves as vice president, stated in an interview with another media outlet that "an official statement from the university will be released soon." However, despite nearly all media outlets highlighting the controversy, the university failed to provide an official position for four days, which is difficult to comprehend.

This controversy did not arise from a sudden failure in evaluation, but rather from Jeju National University excluding the College of Future Convergence from its initial RISE (Regional Innovation-led University Support System) project proposal. As a result, contracts for 13 faculty and staff members were terminated, and the budget was drastically reduced. Nevertheless, the university's failure to provide any statement for four days after the initial report raises suspicions of incompetence.

The president is said to have met with current students once, but according to posts on Jeju National University's internal network, that conversation devolved into a dispute over the facts and failed to build trust. Ultimately, faculty and staff formed an emergency response committee and requested dialogue with the university, but were refused. On April 22 at 2 p.m., two professors, including one female professor, are reportedly planning to shave their heads in protest. Imagining scholars shaving their heads evokes a sense of bitterness, as it seems to transform educators into activists.

The existence of the College of Future Convergence, which provides educational opportunities to adult learners and working professionals, is itself a symbol of the value of lifelong education. Now, more than ever, the importance of lifelong education is being emphasized.

Last year, the number of university admissions slots in Korea was about 350,000, but the number of newborns was only around 240,000. Looking ahead 18 years to when these newborns will enter university, even if every single one enrolls, a reduction of at least 100,000 university slots will be necessary. Low birth rates are not unique to Korea but are a global phenomenon. Even advanced countries are seeing limited effectiveness of immigration policies and are encouraging the reemployment of the silver generation, with "re-education" and "lifelong education" at the center of these efforts.

At a lecture hosted by Jeju National University on April 10, Kyungil Kim, a psychology professor at Ajou University, noted that "the average age of new hires at major corporate factories in northern and southern Gyeonggi Province is 65," emphasizing the importance of lifelong education in the context of delayed retirement and reemployment. What thoughts did President Kim Ilhwan have as he attended that lecture?

The raison d'etre of regional flagship universities lies in ensuring balanced and public education at the national level, beyond mere market logic. Departments and projects should not be determined solely by profitability or popularity; rather, the public responsibility of promoting balanced regional development and expanding educational opportunities must be prioritized. Under this logic, Jeju National University was able to establish a medical school in 1996, together with Kangwon National University, reflecting local community sentiment.

As a national flagship university, even if a program is not profitable or student numbers are low, the institution must embrace a national vision and nurture talent. President Kim Ilhwan must seriously reflect on whether the current series of controversies is truly befitting of a national university's stature.