Pukyong National University's president to resign after Glocal University 30 Project failure

Pukyong National University's president will resign following the university's failure to be shortlisted for the multibillion-won Glocal University 30 Project.

Pukyong National University varsity jackets are laid down in front of the university's administration building in Nam District, Busan, in March, in protest of the university's decision to merge with Korea Maritime & Ocean University. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Pukyong National University's president will resign following the university's failure to be shortlisted for the multibillion-won Glocal University 30 Project.

Jang Young-soo, Pukyong National University’s president, sent an email to university members saying he will resign, according to the university on Wednesday.

"It was announced that our university wasn't shortlisted for the 2024 Glocal University 30 project," wrote President Jang in the email. "With a vision to grow into a globally prestigious university, we had individually applied for the project last year and as a coalition this year, but it wasn't enough to achieve the results we wanted."

"The university executive committee, including the university president, will resign after the next president and executive committee is selected, and take on all responsibilities."

Jang's four-year term was set to end on Oct. 18 this year. Pukyong National University said it will soon hold an election for its next president.

The university had applied for the Glocal University 30 project in 2023, but was not selected for the funding. It teamed up for this year's project with Korea Maritime & Ocean University, applying as a coalition on the condition they merge. The coalition did not make it to the shortlist, which was announced Tuesday.

The merger with Korea Maritime & Ocean University was announced to students in March, with students strongly opposing the decision.

Pukyong National University's student council protested against the decision by laying out their school varsity jackets in front of the administration building, saying the university decided on a merger without carefully discussing the issue with students.

The Glocal University 30 project aims to support universities outside the greater Seoul region amid a decrease in the student population and a strong preference for schools near Seoul. Selected universities will each be given 100 billion won ($72 million), to be split over the next five years.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]