Chungnam National University (CNU) and Kongju National University (KNU) are facing a potential collapse of their merger plans due to opposition from CNU members. This follows the failed merger with Hanbat National University, which has left the proposal to merge with KNU without sufficient support.
Underlying this opposition are complex issues, including ongoing wage disputes within the university and a lack of communication from the administration, compounded by KNU's unreasonable demands. There is growing concern that if the situation is not resolved by next month, significant government funding for key projects could be jeopardized.
According to a report by Aju Economy on September 11, the recent vote on the merger proposal between CNU and KNU was rejected primarily due to accumulated wage disputes between the university administration and the faculty union, as well as a lack of detailed plans for the merger. Additionally, the day before the vote, KNU's student council sent an email to CNU faculty outlining unreasonable demands, which further fueled opposition.
If the merger plan is not submitted by the October 21 deadline, which marks the end of the first year of the 'Glocal University 30' project, the project itself could be at risk of suspension.
Wage Disputes Erupt, Leading to 70-80% Staff Opposition
The most significant blow from the vote came from the overwhelming opposition among staff members. In contrast to previous discussions about merging with Hanbat University, where the public employee union and the university accounting union were supportive, this time nearly 70-80% of staff voted against the merger.
At the heart of this opposition is a long-standing wage dispute between the university administration and the accounting union. The union has been protesting, stating, "We are currently working under worse conditions than KNU," but the administration has reportedly failed to promise improvements in treatment to match KNU's standards after the merger.
A source familiar with CNU's situation noted, "The public employee union and the accounting union are very sensitive to the pros and cons of the merger, and the administration has not adequately addressed these concerns. The internal conflicts with the unions have had a decisive impact on the vote."
Lack of Details and KNU's Email Incident Affect Vote
The low level of support from faculty also contributed to the rejection of the proposal. The source indicated, "While faculty members generally support the merger, the lack of clear synergies or vision has led to increased opposition due to vague proceedings."
What particularly provoked CNU members was KNU's attitude. The day before the vote, the president of KNU's student council sent an email to CNU faculty arguing that, in the event of a merger, KNU students should not be barred from attending classes on the Daejeon campus and that the campus name should not be included on diplomas. Such demands likely triggered a strong backlash among CNU members, who are sensitive to issues of campus separation and academic disparity.
October 21 Deadline Approaches, Concerns Grow
The pressure is now on CNU's administration. Both CNU and KNU are participating in the Ministry of Education's 'Glocal University 30' project, and they must submit a merger plan by the October 21 deadline. Failing to meet this deadline could result in a D grade in the second-year evaluation, effectively nullifying the Glocal project.
The source remarked, "Among the concerned members, there are even lamentations that it would have been better to pursue a win-win situation with Hanbat University instead. The administration must now go beyond merely presenting a vision and develop detailed measures to address the unions' and members' grievances to gain momentum for a second vote."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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