Flagship Korean National Universities

Korean Flagship National Universities (Korean: 지방거점국립대학교, Hanja: 地方據點國立大學校, literally: national universities designed as provincial centres) had been created by the South Korean government to lead the development of South Korea into a developed country through providing the highest educational institutions nationwide. The Korean government created one flagship national university for each province between 1946 and 1968 when South Korea consisted of two provinces and eight independent cities. Ten Korean Flagship National Universities have been taking roles as the leading national institutes of higher education in South Korea.

Often these universities (mainly these all flagship Korean national universities except Seoul National University) are told as Korean: '지거국', abbreviated word of Korean: '지방거점국립대학교', in various high school student communities.

Universities

The 10 Korean Flagship National Universities consist of:

• Jeju National University founded 1952 in Jeju City for the area of Jeju Province
• Chonbuk National University founded 1947 in Jeonju for the area of North Jeolla Province
• Chonnam National University founded 1952 in Gwangju for the area of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province
• Chungbuk National University founded 1951 in Cheongju for the area of North Chungcheong Province
• Chungnam National University founded 1952 in Daejeon for the area of Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province and since 2007 also Sejong City
• Gyeongsang National University founded 1948 in Jinju for the area of Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province
• Kangwon National University founded 1947 in Chuncheon for the area of Gangwon Province
• Kyungpook National University founded 1946 ini Daegu for the area of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province
• Pusan National University founded 1946 in Busan for the area of Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province
• Seoul National University founded 1946 in Seoul for the area of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province

History

After Korean independence in 1945, Korean government discussed to establish the flagship national university to provide the highest education in the country to provide the elites to develop the country. Seoul National University and Pusan National University were created in 1946 as fully established two flagship national universities. Korea Maritime University was also created at the same time as a national university. In addition, three regional colleges in Daegu agreed to create a national university in 1946, which is nowadays Kyungpook National University. Korea Maritime University has not been granted the status as a Flagship National University, but Kyungpook National University had been granted the status as a Flagship National University afterwards in 1951.

Characteristics

Most of Korean flagship National universities were created by merging previously existing regional colleges. The year of the establishment refers to the time when schools received the status of a national university by the government.

Medical schools

All ten Korean Flagship National Universities are in possession of medical schools. Seoul National University has the largest medical school in South Korea (entrance quota: 135), followed by Pusan National University (125), Chonnam National University (125) and Chungnam National University (110). Among the 10 largest medical schools in South Korea, 6 medical schools belong to Korean Flagship National Universities.

Pusan National University has the one and only graduate school of oriental medicine in South Korea.

Dental schools

Among eleven schools of dental medicine in South Korea, five schools belong to Korean Flagship National Universities. Seoul National University has the largest school of dental medicine in South Korea, followed by Pusan National University.

Traditional Korean medical schools

Among all traditional Korean medical schools, Pusan National University is only one flagship Korean national university which has traditional Korean medical school with the name of "The School of Korean Medicine". Entrance quota of PNU's is 50 (25 for 7-year educational curriculum of undergraduate-postgraduate students, 25 for postgraduate students only).

Law schools

All Korean Flagship National Universities except Gyeongsang National University have law schools. Seoul National University has the largest law school in South Korea.

Among the 25 law schools in South Korea, 9 law schools belong to Korean Flagship National Universities.