[WORD_ON_THE_WEB] 'We need a regional university quota system'

The government aims to expand the study of semiconductors at Korean universities.

President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized in a June 7 cabinet meeting that the ministry of education should diligently aid the training of talented experts in the semiconductor field.

Prime minister Han Duk-soo commented that “the government feels the need to increase the number of students in universities in both the capital area and other regions. The related departments are discussing the exact scale of the expansion.”

The opening or expansion of a university was impossible in the capital areas due to the Seoul Metropolitan Area Readjustment Planning Act.

The ministry of education is considering revising the act to legalize the opening of new departments and expansion of existing ones.

However, there are concerns that the plan will accelerate the regional bias between the capital and non-capital areas.

#capital_first
“It’s only right to expand the prestigious universities first. They should be the first in the line in the positive feedback loop.”
“We should expand the universities in the capital area first. There’s where talented individuals go.”

#regional_balance
“If there are industry-associated departments in universities located in non-central areas, many more students will want to come to those schools.”
“We need a regional quota system. Students who get good grades in non-capital area universities are hard-working individuals too.”

#talent_not_manpower
“We don’t lack manpower, we lack talented individuals.”
“The industryneeds more young semiconductor experts who are more knowledgeable than an undergrad."

BY LEE SI-YEOUNG, YOO JI-WOO [yoo.jiwoo@joongang.co.kr]