(Cheongju = Yonhap News) Reporter Cheon Gyeong-hwan and Park Geon-young = Korea National University of Transportation received strong criticism from lawmakers during the government audit for having its Glocal University 30 project designation canceled due to the failed integration with Chungbuk National University.
At the National Assembly Education Committee audit held at Chonnam National University on the 21st, People Power Party lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon raised the issue of the future of Yoon Seung-jo, president of the National University of Transportation.
Rep. Park said, "The president of Chungbuk National University took responsibility for the failure of the integration and resigned, but the president of the National University of Transportation is continuing his work. Don't you feel responsible?" He added, "A large amount of budget was invested, but if the Ministry of Education withdraws it, how will you respond?"
He added, "Nevertheless, the president caused controversy by going on a business trip to New York and Nepal, which could be criticized as foreign, with the help of glocal project expenses," and added, "It seems to be a business trip that is difficult to say was fruitful, and it appears to be a possible violation of the Public Finance Recovery Act. What do you think?"
In response to this, President Yoon responded, โRegarding the presidentโs resignation, I will listen to the membersโ stories and think deeply. It is true that I have gone on several overseas business trips, but I understand that presidents of other universities have also gone on similar trips.โ
After hearing President Yoon's answer, Rep. Ko Min-jeong of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "If there is a problem with the National Transportation University, it is the role of the president to humbly reflect and show responsibility." He added, "If you investigate all other university presidents and find out that the National Transportation University traveled the most overseas business trips, will you take on additional responsibility?"
An official from the Ministry of Education said, โIf integration does not take place, we will conduct a thorough review and recover the funds.โ
When asked about the method of selecting the integrated president, the answers from the presidents of Chungbuk National University and the National University of Transportation were mixed.
In response to Assemblyman Ko's question, "Isn't there a method of selecting the campus president for the integration project?" Jae-Soo Yoo, Acting President of Chungbuk National University, responded, "There has been some agreement (between the two universities) on the matter of 'the president of Chungbuk National University will be the president of the integrated university.'" President Yoon immediately countered by saying, "The positions of the two universities are different."
President Yoon replied, "From the National University of Transportation's perspective, the biggest reason why the integration discussions were put on hold was that Chungbuk National University broke the agreement between the presidents of the integrated universities that had been initially promised. Afterwards, the National University of Transportation presented an agreement regarding faculty, staff, and students, but Chungbuk National University only accepted the faculty and did not accept the rest, leading to a deadlock."
However, both university presidents expressed their will to continue integration discussions in the future, saying, "We will not let go of integration."
Previously, Chungbuk National University and National University of Transportation were designated as glocal universities by the Ministry of Education on the premise of physical integration, but the designation was canceled due to the slow integration process.
Afterwards, the two universities decided to pursue a phased integration, but it ultimately failed, and the Ministry of Education issued an 'ultimatum' to the two universities to clearly state their final intentions.
As the integration is aborted, the process of recovering government subsidies received in this regard is expected to begin in 2023.
