Yongbong Agora
Chonnam National University operates a participatory body called Yongbong Agora, which allows local stakeholders to meaningfully engage in the university’s decision-making process. Yongbong Agora is a forum where key figures from the university and local community gather to discuss mutual development strategies for both the university and the region. In this session, the theme of "Revitalizing the University and the Region" was addressed.
The event included a diverse range of participants, such as the president of Chonnam National University, undergraduate students, international graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni, local residents, and local business leaders. Through presentations and Q&A sessions, each stakeholder shared issues facing the university and the local community, and discussed practical cooperation strategies for regional development.
Yongbong Agora serves as an important participatory body where the university and the community can share opinions and derive cooperative solutions, playing a meaningful role in setting directions for the university’s development plans and policies needed by the community.
Evidence
- Yongbong Agora event report
- News articles:
https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=146&bbsMode=view&key=17094
Meeting between Local Journalists and Chonnam National University
Chonnam National University held a meeting with local journalists as part of the Living Lab Network Establishment Project for Regional-University-Industry Cooperation. This meeting was organized to share the current status of regional cooperation projects and to discuss strategies for building a cooperative system for fostering local talent and promoting regional development. Key attendees included the Vice President and senior officials of Chonnam National University, as well as local journalists, including the director of Namdo Daily News, with around 20 participants in total.
Evidence: 2. Meeting between Local Journalists and Chonnam National University
Regional Development Strategy Forum through University-Industry-Community Cooperation
To address the issue of regional depopulation, Chonnam National University held the "Regional Development Strategy Forum through University-Industry-Community Cooperation" on August 31, 2023. This forum served as an opportunity to explore strategies for sustainable growth through collaboration between the community, university, and local industries, in alignment with the RISE and Glocal University 30 initiatives.
Participants included members of Chonnam National University, officials from Jeollanam-do, Jeollanam-do Provincial Council, Yeosu City Council, and representatives from local industries. Attendees shared diverse perspectives on strategies to combat regional depopulation. Through this forum, the university aimed to strengthen cooperative relationships between the community, university, and industry, and to discuss practical solutions for regional development.
Evidence: 3. Regional Development Strategy Forum through University-Industry-Community Cooperation
Yeosu-Chonnam National University Cooperative Development Working Council
The Yeosu-Chonnam National University Cooperative Development Working Council is a collaborative body where Yeosu City and Chonnam National University discuss and implement strategies for the joint development of the local community and the university. Through regular meetings, the council explores cooperative initiatives across various areas, including regional development, talent cultivation, educational collaboration, and environmental improvement.
The council consists of key representatives from both Yeosu City and Chonnam National University who review and discuss actionable plans proposed by both parties. Key agenda items include promoting local talent employment, enhancing lifelong learning, operating educational programs jointly between the university and local government, and introducing resource recycling systems for environmental improvement. Through this collaboration, Yeosu City and Chonnam National University aim to foster sustainable regional development and work together to improve the well-being of local residents and students.
Evidence: 4. Yeosu-Chonnam National University Cooperative Development Working Council
Civil Society Organizations - Chonnam National University Meeting
The "Civil Society Organizations - Chonnam National University Meeting" is a forum where Chonnam National University and local civil society organizations come together to discuss strategies for establishing a cooperative system for the mutual development of the community, university, and local industries. This meeting was part of the Regional-University-Industry Cooperative Living Lab Network Establishment Project and was held on January 11, 2023, in the main conference room of the university headquarters.
Approximately 20 participants attended, including key figures from civil society organizations, such as the executive director of the Yeosu Alliance, as well as the university's vice president and senior officials. The main topics of discussion included sharing the status of Chonnam National University’s ongoing regional cooperation projects and exploring corporate social responsibility initiatives and strategies for a cooperative framework aimed at local talent development and regional community growth.
This meeting served as an important platform to strengthen the collaborative relationship between the university and the local community, supporting the development of both the community and local industries.
Evidence:5. Civil Society Organizations - Chonnam National University Meeting
Climate Change Response Public-Private-Academic-Industry Council
In August 2023, Chonnam National University's Jeonnam Green Environment Support Center launched a public-private-academic-industry council in Yeosu to enhance education and capacity-building on climate crisis response in collaboration with policymakers and the local community. This council aims to support Yeosu City’s 2050 carbon neutrality commitment and COP33 hosting bid, and it holds regular seminars and workshops in four sectors: public, construction, transportation, energy & industry, and low-carbon lifestyle.
Through council activities, detailed climate response policies are being developed and taught across sectors, including greenhouse gas reduction strategies and methodologies for calculating reduction levels. Professor Moon Young-soo from Chonnam National University presented the council’s progress and greenhouse gas reduction methods during a seminar titled "COP33 Hosting and Carbon Neutrality in Yeosu," sharing strategic policy directions with the local community.
Director Kim Eun-sik of the Center stated that the council’s initiatives are working toward policy development that will help Yeosu transition to a low-carbon economy and society, establishing a foundation for carbon neutrality in Yeosu.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=174&bbsMode=view&page=56&key=4004
Symposium on Countermeasures for Population Decline
On November 8, 2023, Chonnam National University’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Institute, in collaboration with the Yeosu Economic Justice Research Institute, hosted a symposium titled “Coexistence Strategies for Regional Cities Facing Population Decline and the Risk of Disappearance.” The event gathered approximately 150 attendees, including Kim Young-kyu, Chairperson of the Yeosu City Council, and Park Bok-jae, Vice President of Chonnam National University’s Yeosu Campus, to discuss strategies and responses to population decline and regional city sustainability. This symposium served as a platform for capacity-building and education with local policymakers and the community.
Researcher Park Choong-hoon from the Busan Research Institute emphasized the need for a strategic shift to foster shared prosperity in the Yeosu-Suncheon-Gwangyang metropolitan area, considering the increasing concentration of resources in the Seoul metropolitan area. He also highlighted the importance of policy support to establish essential commercial facilities and conveniences, enabling young people to feel integrated within the city.
In his opening remarks, Vice President Park Bok-jae addressed the accelerating regional extinction caused by population decline and metropolitan concentration, pledging that Chonnam National University will continue to work alongside local residents to find solutions to these pressing challenges.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=174&bbsMode=view&page=41&key=4153
‘Agora Roundtable’ on Solutions for Regional Decline
The Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Innovation Platform’s University Education Innovation Headquarters, led by Chonnam National University, held an 'Agora Roundtable' on September 19, 2023, to explore solutions for the crisis of regional decline. This public forum brought together policymakers, education experts, and students to discuss the causes and solutions for regional depopulation, focusing on creating a virtuous cycle model connecting talent development, job creation, and regional development.
In the first session, experts from various fields discussed responses to the regional extinction crisis in Gwangju and Jeonnam, while the second session focused on strategies for regional innovation. Students from Mokpo University, Honam University, and Chonnam National University participated as panelists, engaging in active discussions with the presenters and contributing to a vibrant Q&A.
The roundtable was broadcast on KBS 1TV on October 11 and 18, making it accessible to a broader audience. Han Tae-ho, Director of the University Education Innovation Headquarters, expressed commitment to continuing practical, ongoing discussions on sustainable regional development rather than a one-time assessment of the decline issue.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=146&bbsMode=view&key=17025
Chonnam National University College of Medicine - International Symposium on Aging Solutions
On October 21, 2023, Chonnam National University’s College of Medicine hosted the 17th International Symposium on Aging at its Hwasun Campus. Under the theme “From Dependence to Independence, and Aging Together,” over 240 participants attended both online and in person, with prominent experts from Korea and abroad delivering lectures.
The symposium featured sessions covering a wide array of aging topics, including the Korean Centenarian Study, self-care for thriving in old age, and the latest treatments to combat aging. This annual symposium is a renowned academic event, gathering professors, researchers, medical professionals, and experts from various fields like geriatrics, gerontology, elderly welfare, nursing, and social policy to discuss and integrate advancements in aging research and care.
The event was organized by Chonnam National University’s Geriatrics Center, led by Director Yoon Kyung-chul, and the Institute of Aging Science, directed by Park Kwang-sung, with support from Hwasun County. The symposium committee, chaired by Professor Park Sang-chul and organized by Yoon Kyung-chul, with contributions from Program Chair Park Cheol-seung (GIST) and Secretary-General Han Jae-young, contributed significantly to the success of the event.
Dr. Ahn Young-geun, Director of Chonnam National University Hospital, expressed support for the symposium’s role in advancing geriatric knowledge, and Dr. Jung Young-do, Dean of Chonnam National University College of Medicine, highlighted the importance of exploring solutions for aging, wishing for the symposium’s impact in promoting a healthy and fulfilling elderly life.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=174&bbsMode=view&key=4127
Higher Education System Innovation Forum Ahead of RISE Implementation
On July 3, 2023, Chonnam National University hosted a forum titled “Higher Education System Innovation for Regional Coexistence” at its Cosmos Hall, in anticipation of the upcoming 2025 RISE (Regional Innovation System in Education) implementation. This forum brought together key figures, including Vice Chairman Lee Jeong-hyun from the Local Era Committee, Vice Mayor Lee Sang-gap from Gwangju City, officials from the Ministry of Education, and university representatives, to explore strategies for collaboration between regional governments and universities.
Discussions focused on the roles of local governments and universities under the RISE framework. Presentations included insights on the role of local governments and Gwangju’s RISE strategy by Koh Young-hoon, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province’s Education Reform Support Officer, and Kim Dong-hyun, Director at Gwangju City. Additionally, a panel session, led by Chonnam National University’s Vice President for Research Kim Soo-hyung, examined universities’ strategies for adapting to RISE, with participation from officials like Park Sung-ha, Head of the Ministry of Education’s Regional Talent Policy Division, and panelists from Kyungpook National University and Jeonbuk National University.
Participants agreed on the need for effective governance partnerships between universities and local governments and emphasized structural reforms within universities to ensure the success of the RISE framework.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=146&bbsMode=view&key=17204
