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Korean universities are increasingly pursuing mergers and introducing vocational programs to address the growing crisis of the country's low birthrate and declining enrollment, two key issues that are putting additional financial pressure on these educational institutions.

Experts agree that these changes are inevitable, but concerns are rising that the restructuring could undermine diversity and competitiveness in higher education. They caution that shifting the focus to universities as job training centers might limit the range of academic disciplines and weaken the overall educational environment.

According to the Korean Council for University Education, the number of university entrants is projected to fall from 440,000 in 2023 to just 260,000 by 2040. Since 2021, the number of university applicants has been falling short of university admissions quotas.

In addition to shrinking student numbers, universities outside the capital are finding it difficult to attract students due to the dominance of higher education institutions in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

As a survival strategy, many institutions are opting to merge.

Mokpo National University and Sunchon National University, both located in South Jeolla Province, submitted merger applications to the Ministry of Education last month. Through the merger, the universities aim to establish a medical school and an affiliated hospital — an ambition long pursued by the province located in southwestern Korea.

Kangwon National University and Gangneung–Wonju National University, located in northeastern Korea's mountainous Gangwon Province, are currently in negotiations to merge by 2026. The combined institution aims to strengthen its role as a key educational force in the region by focusing on specialized academic disciplines across its campuses.

Chungbuk National University and the Korea National University of Transportation, located in North Chungcheong Province in central Korea, are also planning to merge by March 2027.

In South Chungcheong Province, Chungnam National University and Kongju National University signed a memorandum of understanding last month and are speeding up discussions on a potential merger.

The pushes for university mergers and specialization have gained momentum, particularly after the government introduced financial support for selected "glocal" universities.

The term "glocal," a blend of "global" and "local," highlights the importance of preserving regional identity while adapting to the wider process of globalization.

Starting in 2023, the Ministry of Education launched a policy allocating 100 billion won ($69.62 million) over five years to 30 selected universities outside of Seoul, with the goal of strengthening both the schools and their surrounding communities. This initiative represents the largest single-university subsidy in the ministry's financial support programs.

Universities selected for the program designate specialized fields of study and partner with leading companies in their respective geographic areas to boost the region's economic vitality.

A poster for medical school admissions is displayed on the wall of a private cram school in Daechi-dong, Gangnam District, southern Seoul, May 17, 2024. Yonhap

Universities under scrutiny

Experts acknowledge that these changes are inevitable, but worry about a persistent issue in Korea's educational landscape: The growing perception of universities primarily as job training centers for students and tools for local governments to drive regional development, rather than as centers for knowledge, research and intellectual growth.

Park Joo-ho, a professor at Hanyang University's Department of Education, argued that the decline of universities outside the capital and their pursuit of mergers is a natural trend, with the education ministry's initiative only accelerating the process.

"With the demographic cliff and low birthrate leading to fewer students and less demand, there's little need for universities in nonmetropolitan areas," he said.

Experts were also skeptical of the government's goal to use these struggling universities to boost regional economies through mergers and the introduction of more vocational programs.

"The country's development model is centered around industrial and economic concentration in the metropolitan areas, including Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. In this context, it's unrealistic to expect universities in non-metropolitan areas to alleviate this concentration."

Park also emphasized the importance of recognizing the impact of demographic changes on the size and scope of higher education.

"The structure of higher education was designed in the 1980s, when the population was growing," Park noted. "Now, compared to the current population, the structure of higher education is disproportionate."

He explained that the oversupply of higher education institutions has created a mismatch in the labor market.

"There are jobs that don't require a university education, yet even those positions attract university graduates," he said.

Song Ki-chang, chancellor of Sungsan Hyo University and honorary professor at Sookmyung Women's University, also recognized the inevitability of universities' decline due to low demand.

"Merging is a necessary survival strategy for local universities," he said.

Song also voiced concerns about its effect on the diversity and specialization of universities.

"When two universities merge, majors and departments deemed less competitive are often eliminated," he said. "While this may boost competitiveness, it could also eliminate departments essential for preserving diversity and continuity in education."

He also raised concerns about the emphasis on specialization, cautioning that if a particular field wanes, universities focused on that area could experience severe setbacks.

"There's a growing tendency to view universities purely as practical tools for employment," Song said.

"The emphasis on universities collaborating with local governments and industries may ultimately hinder long-term national development."

The increasing demand for medical schools also reflects this situation, fueled by the widespread belief that gaining admission to a medical program guarantees a secure future.

Complicating the situation, the increase in the medical school quota in Korea is attracting top students away from other universities, especially those without medical programs. The fierce competition for limited spots encourages students to focus on pre-med coursework, often at the expense of other fields.

The number of applicants for regular admissions to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, as well as other leading science and technology institutes across the country, fell by 28 percent this year compared to the previous year.

In contrast, the number of applicants to 39 medical schools in Korea increased 29.9 percent year-on-year in 2024 to 10,519 applicants.

"While fields like the humanities may seem impractical in the short term, there has been little research or effort to explore how universities could contribute to future societal development within the educational community," Song said.