With the opening of the government of the people's sovereignty led by Lee Jae-myung, the topic of creating 10 Seoul National Universities has become a hot issue in the education sector. It is hoped that this will have a symbolic meaning. It is a symbolic declaration aimed at breaking the hierarchy between universities in the capital region and regional universities. As of 2023, Seoul National University received a budget of nearly 1.3 trillion won in the current state of financial support for higher education from the central government and local governments, which is three times the average budget of the 9 flagship national universities (4.558 billion won).

It is said that they will expand the budget support for regional national universities and Seoul National University to create 10 Seoul National Universities. But is it really possible to create 10 Seoul National Universities if budget investment is made? Just by tripling the budget of Chonbuk University, can it become like Seoul National University? It's not like drawing a line on a pumpkin and expecting it to turn into a watermelon. If we consider Chonbuk University as one of the top 7 universities in Seoul, will it become like Seoul National University? Budget is also a problem. Even if you invest 2.5 times more budget in 10 regional national universities than now, it may not be achievable just by investing for a year. The budget pie for the entire education sector is fixed. If we concentrate the budget on 10 national universities, what will happen to primary and secondary education?

In fact, in 2023, out of the total education budget of 102 trillion won, the budget for primary and secondary education is 80 trillion won, while the budget for higher education is 13.5 trillion won. In 2024, the education budget decreased significantly to 95 trillion won, with the budget for primary and secondary education reduced to 73 trillion won, but the budget for higher education expanded to 14.3 trillion won. In 2025, the education budget is 105 trillion won, with the budget for primary and secondary education remaining at around 81 trillion won, but the budget for higher education continues to expand to 16 trillion won.

It may continue for several years, but if the plan to invest approximately 10 trillion won each year to create 10 Seoul National Universities and revitalize regional universities is pursued, there is a high possibility that the budget for primary and secondary education will decrease to the current level. We experienced the collapse of primary and secondary education due to the concentrated budget allocation for AIDT development in 2024. It is said that the required budget was 6 trillion won. With a budget of 6 trillion won, high schools were unable to support the education budget needed for the implementation of the high school credit system, putting the high school credit system itself in crisis. In this situation where secondary education is crumbling, proposing to invest 10 trillion won in higher education to eliminate university hierarchy is logically inconsistent.

Of course, regional flagship national universities like Chonbuk University have lower budgets compared to Seoul National University. However, it is not that Chonbuk University has a lower budget compared to private universities in the capital region. According to university financial data, the budgets of universities like Kwangwoon University (1.237 billion won), Kookmin University (2.385 billion won), Dongguk University (3.714 billion won), Soongsil University (2.312 billion won), and Hongik University (3.411 billion won) are all lower than the average budget of the 9 flagship national universities (4.558 billion won).

The fact that regional flagship national universities have lower budgets does not mean they are less competitive compared to universities in the capital region. Since 2009, regional national universities have established law schools (law schools) in competition with prestigious private universities. Although law schools were started in similar proportions in the capital region and regions, what were the results? The hierarchy of law schools is widening more than the hierarchy of universities. Based on the pass rates of the 14th bar exam, Seoul National University is at 86.7%, Korea University at 75.5%, Ajou University at 53.2%, Chonbuk University at 32.1%, and Wonkwang University at 30.6%, showing a widening gap between Seoul and regional universities.

The same applies to medical schools that attract students with top high school grades. Do regional flagship national university hospitals and private university hospitals in the capital region have more budget? It is difficult to search for specific data, but as an example, in 2021, Inha University had a budget of 3.939 billion won, while Jeonbuk University Hospital had 3.950 billion won, showing similar figures. In this situation, would students choose Jeonbuk University's medical school or aim for Inha University's medical school in the capital region? The answer from students is likely predetermined. The hierarchy of universities is not a budget-related issue. If regional flagship national universities are invested with budgets similar to Seoul National University, then the logic that regional flagship national universities should be much more competitive than private universities in the capital region does not make sense.

Therefore, before pursuing the creation of 10 Seoul National Universities, efforts by regional flagship national universities should precede. Each university should first select specialized fields and then focus on investing in those areas, seeking a direction where the university's capacity gradually upgrades based on the transition effects to related departments or faculties.

The capacity of regional flagship national universities is also well reflected in university admission policies. Capital region universities employ various methods to attract talented individuals. Unlike regional flagship national universities, especially in our region, university admission policies still largely rely on traditional methods, with relative evaluation based on high school grades and the selection through the standardized national college entrance exam still accounting for more than 70%. Such uniform admission policies could lead to results contrary to the goals of the policy to ease university hierarchy and promote national balanced development like creating 10 Seoul National Universities.

In such a situation, even with massive investments, it is difficult to see an improvement in the quality of regional flagship national universities. The challenges at school sites are overwhelming, with debates surrounding the survival of the high school credit system still ongoing. Discussions on how to develop teaching, learning, and evaluation within classrooms are also continuing. Educational discourses that aim at achieving goals beyond education may hinder educational development. The need for deeper contemplation is evident.