▲ Provided by the Korea University Communications Department Kim Byoung-Chul(left), KU president and Lee Jae-hong(right), the head of MACC.

On January 25, Korea University (KU), in cooperation with the Multifunctional Administrative City Construction Agency (MACC), agreed to establish a third campus in the city of Sejong. Their ultimate goal is to create a globally competitive future-oriented campus.

The initial goal is to form a campus by 2018 consisting of a biomedical center, business school, graduate school of public administration, and a fundamental science institute. By 2023, graduate school of bioscience and green fusion technology are also to be established.

A KU official involved with the plan for the new campus said, “Through our ambitiously planned out third campus, we expect to foster much manpower in the field of basic science, source technology research, and international administrations. Furthermore, we are seeking development in such fields through active exchange with neighboring administrative agencies, research agencies, and industrial complexes in Sejong.”

However, because the school announced no further details about the new campus or about its possible influence on the Anam campus, many students may feel confused and somewhat distressed. Cheong Da Hee (’10, Mechanical Engineering) said, “While the objective itself for establishing this new campus seems positive, many students feel worried that the school might suddenly require some departments in the Anam campus to move to the newly constructed Sejong campus.” Cheong further hoped KU would announce its stance in a clearer manner, especially when making such important decisions, in order to avoid possible conflicts between the school administration and the student body.

Nonetheless, the school said it had little to say since nothing has yet been confirmed except for the signed contract. When asked whether students on the Anam campus might possibly have to move to the new campus or about issues regarding financial aid, school officials seemed extremely cautious in answering. The manager of the KU Planning Department Song In-Sik said, “So far, all that has been decided regarding the third campus in Sejong is what has already been covered by outside media. Also, it has just been a few weeks since the business contract was signed. We will have to wait with patience to see what specific plans will be decided on afterwards.”

Students who attend the current Sejong campus also have concerns regarding the establishment of the new campus. One Sejong campus student, Han Jung Hee (’11, Electronics and Information Engineering) stated, “When I first heard that KU was planning to build a new campus in Sejong, I felt concerned that the school might shift most of its interest and support to the third campus from us.” Sejong campus students also wanted to know whether the third campus would be completely independent from theirs or whether it would be more like an extended concept of the Sejong campus. Hopefully, KU is expected to provide students more information about the new campus soon.