Full-scale Launch of "Creating 10 Universities on Par with Seoul National University"
Significant Investment in Fostering AI and STEM Talent
8.331 Billion Won Allocated for Early Childhood Integration Budget
The Ministry of Education will invest 873.3 billion won in flagship national universities as part of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's national agenda to "create 10 universities on par with Seoul National University." A new budget has also been established to designate AI flagship universities to foster AI (artificial intelligence) talent.
On August 29, the Ministry of Education announced that it has set the 2026 budget at 106.2663 trillion won, an increase of 3.6 trillion won compared to this year. This marks the third consecutive year, following 2023 and this year, that the ministry's budget has surpassed 100 trillion won, making it the largest ever.
The budget for early childhood, elementary, and secondary education is approximately 82 trillion won, up 2.6 trillion won from this year, while the higher education budget has been set at 16 trillion won, an increase of 800 billion won. The Special Account for Higher and Lifelong Education Support, which is used for university innovation, will be extended for five years until 2030, and a new Special Account for Early Childhood Education, which includes the budget for the integration of early childhood care and education, has been established. The portion of the education tax from the finance and insurance sectors will be transferred to the special account for higher education, while 60% of the remaining education tax will be allocated to the special account for early childhood education, and the remaining 40% will be distributed to provincial education offices as general grants.
A notable aspect is the increase in the university development budget. The Ministry of Education has allocated 3.1326 trillion won for the intensive development of flagship national universities to promote balanced national growth, as well as for the Regional Innovation-led University Support System (RISE).
Flagship national universities will receive 873.3 billion won, an increase of 477.7 billion won from the previous year. This is part of the "creating 10 universities on par with Seoul National University" initiative, which aims to alleviate the hierarchy among universities centered in the Seoul metropolitan area and promote balanced national growth. The budget includes funds to expand high-cost experimental and practical equipment, and a new "research-oriented university incentive" has been introduced. A Ministry of Education official stated, "We plan to provide package support so that three universities can advance to the level of world-class research universities." The ministry intends to invest more than 4 trillion won in the "creating 10 universities on par with Seoul National University" initiative over the next five years.
The RISE budget has been increased by 199.3 billion won to 2.1403 trillion won. The additional funds will be used to promote educational and research collaboration among regional universities and to carry out large-scale projects in five major regions (the Seoul metropolitan area, Southeast, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Central, and Honam) and three special regions (Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Jeju).
Additionally, to enable universities to pursue specialization such as restructuring academic departments in response to the declining school-age population and changes in industrial structure, a specialization incentive has been newly established within the University Innovation Support Project. Investments of 85 billion won for universities and 34 billion won for technical colleges are planned.
The budget for fostering AI talent at the national level has also increased significantly, rising from 14.7 billion won this year to 124.6 billion won in 2026, approximately a ninefold increase. The ministry will provide basic education on AI ethics and utilization for non-major students and develop curricula to enhance the AI capabilities of prospective teachers. In addition, universities designated as "AI flagship universities" that operate AI colleges will be developed as regional hubs for AI education and research.
To foster STEM talent and prevent brain drain overseas, 209 billion won will be invested. A new project will support the growth path of STEM talent from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels, and the support areas for fostering talent in advanced industries such as future automobiles and robotics will be expanded.
Following the unification of the management of kindergartens and daycare centers last June, 833.1 billion won will be invested to advance the integration of early childhood care and education, which had previously seen little progress. To gradually implement free education and care for four- and five-year-olds, 470.3 billion won has been allocated. To improve the teacher-to-child ratio in infant classes from 1:3 to 1:2, 326.2 billion won will be invested. In addition, a new allowance of 36.5 billion won has been introduced for morning care teachers at daycare centers to minimize care gaps during commuting hours, and a 3% increase in the unit cost of infant care has been reflected.
Due to the extension of free high school education following the amendment of the Local Education Finance Grant Act in August, a national contribution of 578.5 billion won has also been included in next year's budget.
Choi Eunok, Vice Minister of Education, stated, "We have prepared the 2026 budget to faithfully implement the new government's national agenda," adding, "Using the 2026 budget as a catalyst, we will foster regional talent through educational innovation and nurture future talent for the AI digital era."
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