"Major Transformation Urgently Needed for Universities... Ease Regulations, Open Competition, and Embrace Failure" [University Transformation] ⑭

Oh Chulho, Professor Emeritus of Public Administration at Soongsil University
Excessive Regulation by the Ministry of Education Is the Biggest Problem
Internal Structural Reform Within Universities Is Also Needed

"Korean universities are now at a critical juncture that demands a major transformation. The nation must stake its future and establish short-, medium-, and long-term plans," he said.

On September 30, Oh Chulho, Professor Emeritus of Public Administration at Soongsil University, stated in an interview with Asia Economy that "there is a growing sense of crisis that domestic universities are falling behind in global competition in the AI era." He then systematically pointed out the structural issues facing Korean universities, including Ministry of Education regulations, tuition freezes, constraints on the research environment, the outflow of STEM talent, lack of collaboration, and the tenure system.

Professor Oh identified "excessive regulation centered on the Ministry of Education" as the biggest problem for Korean universities. He said, "Universities are also part of the education industry, so competition should be fundamental, but the government only allows competition within its guidelines, making it difficult to grow like overseas universities." He also cited tuition freezes as an issue. "It is impossible to demand competitiveness while keeping tuition frozen," he argued. "If the freeze continues, the government should at least support the operating expenses, which account for about half of tuition, and in return, enforce strict transparency management." He emphasized the need for a system that grants "maximum freedom and maximum responsibility."

Professor Oh analyzed that the outflow of STEM master's and doctoral talent from Korean society is not a simple issue but the result of structural conditions. "Becoming a professor is as difficult as picking a star from the sky, research positions are already filled to capacity, and private sector research institutes do not hire enough staff," he explained. "In addition, the lack of research autonomy, support focused on short-term results, and the absence of collaboration are driving young researchers to look overseas." He noted that while the supply of talent remains steady, there are few opportunities for them after earning their degrees. Moreover, starting a business is not an easy path either. "For Stanford engineering graduates, the top career choice is entrepreneurship, but in Korea, startups are still at the level of 'mom-and-pop shops,'" he said, adding, "Networking, mentoring, and a track record of success must be established."

He also stressed the importance of a research environment that tolerates failure. "In Korea, only 'research worth doing' is pursued," he criticized. "Because failure brings accountability, researchers avoid challenging projects, and as a result, Nobel Prize-level research does not emerge." He emphasized the need for a research ecosystem centered on collaboration and networking. "Unless the system that monopolizes achievements and the culture of ranking people changes, creative talent cannot thrive," he pointed out.

However, internal structural reforms within universities must proceed in parallel. The most prominent example is the tenure system. "Tenure contributed to academic freedom during the era of military regimes, but now it serves as a shield that rewards professors even if they do not conduct research," he said. "In the United States, more universities are abolishing or modifying tenure." He suggested, "It is necessary to redesign the system to link performance evaluations with responsibility, while also maintaining legal and institutional job security."

He concluded, "Securing top talent and strengthening university competitiveness is the starting point for solving Korea's chronic issues, such as low birth rates, polarization, and avoidance of marriage." He reiterated, "The government must establish short-, medium-, and long-term plans." He added, "In the short term, the research environment and compensation system must be improved; in the medium term, university restructuring and the startup ecosystem must be strengthened; and in the long term, social consciousness must change."