PNU-BNUE Merger Highlights Need for Education Integration

As Pusan National University (PNU) pursues comprehensive teacher training for kindergarten, elementary, and secondary education while driving educational innovation through its 2027 merger with Busan National University of Education (BNUE), experts in the field of education, including the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s Review Committee, have emphasized the importance of physically merging the College of Education and BNUE.

According to a comprehensive report by “Channel PNU” on August 29th, 2025, the MOE's Merger Review Committee held its 7th meeting on May 23rd to discuss the agenda item “Relocation of the College of Education to BNUE” prior to approving the merger of the two universities. Established in May 2024 with representatives from each university, the Review Committee comprehensively reviewed the development plans and operational strategies of both universities through multiple meetings. It has subsequently provided improvements and monitored progress in implementation. 

According to related documents, the MOE’s Review Committee pointed out that “It is necessary to specify and clarify the plan to relocate the College of Education to BNUE (Yeonje Campus).” It further evaluated that the importance of  “gathering broad opinions on plans for integrating research and educational infrastructure centered on the Yeonje Campus are also essential to achieve physical consolidation, and establishing a unified operational system. The committee emphasized the development of specific implementation strategies, such as a joint curriculum operation system.” In response, PNU submitted an integrated proposal including a phased relocation plan for the College of Education, such as establishing a Teacher Integration Research Center, etc., and received final approval from the MOE on May 30th as said by “Channel PNU” on June 5th, 2025.

■Physical Integration of BNUE and College of Education is an Essential Task

Education experts also analyzed that having the College of Education and BNUE on one campus is essential for establishing a comprehensive teacher training system, aligning with the Review Committee’s opinion. Kim Sung-Cheon (Prof. of Education, Korea National University of Education), Korea’s sole comprehensive teacher training institution, stated, “Teacher training colleges are specialized universities tailored to education, boasting a high employment rate and professors across departments specializing in education can offer flexible guidance to students.” He added, “If the College of Education and the Teacher Training College share the same campus, curriculum integration can be achieved, and specialized subjects can be developed by leveraging the strengths of both institutions.”

Prof. Kim further emphasized that seamless exchange between the College of Education and BNUE is advantageous for training educators covering preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. He explained, “It enables in-depth education considering continuous developmental relationships,” adding, “This integration broadens the scope of education as an academic discipline (compared to before integration) and leads to deeper inquiry among students.”

Prof. Kim noted that academia is closely watching to see if the merger of the two universities will serve as a model case for integrating teacher training colleges and universities. Currently, South Korea faces a severe decline in the school-age population, raising the need for an integration model for colleges of education and teacher training colleges. He stated, “The current Korean education system is fragmented, and the separation between kindergarten, elementary, and secondary education is very serious.” He continued adding, “Based on collaboration and trust, colleges of education and teacher training colleges must jointly design curricula.” And he explained, “Since there is currently no innovative model for integrating universities of education and teacher training colleges, the merger of PNU and BNUE could become an opportunity to reshape South Korea's education system,” and noted, “To demonstrate its status as a ‘pilot university,’ a more proactive approach to integration seems necessary.”

In fact, Jeju National University (JNU) and Jeju National University of Education (JNUE), which merged in 2008 as the first integration of its kind nationwide, operated on separate campuses, which led to several limitations. Recently, they decided to pursue physical integration by relocating JNUE to the JNU campus.

■Academic Exchange Must Be Enhanced

Experts also emphasized that seamless interdisciplinary exchange is essential in teacher training. To cultivate teachers capable of fostering convergent thinking and problem-solving skills—rather than merely imparting subject knowledge—students must engage with diverse majors and academic fields. Byun Ki-Yong (Prof. of Education, Korea University) stated, “One of the greatest benefits when a college of education integrates with a comprehensive university's college of education is that education students can double major in diverse academic fields or take courses in other departments.” He added, “If campuses remain separate, preventing education students from fully utilizing the resources of a comprehensive university, it becomes difficult to justify the integration.” At Ewha Womans University, where the Department of Elementary Education operates within the College of Education, students are offered diverse major options like double majors and minors. As a result, a relatively high number pursue careers outside teaching.

While it is desirable for colleges of education and teacher training colleges to coexist within existing comprehensive universities, a problem lies in a chronic space shortage at PNU's Busan campus. Currently, PNU has the Yangsan Campus specializing in medical and life sciences fields like the College of Medicine and College of Nursing, the Miryang Campus specializing in nano and bio fields like the College of Life Resource Sciences, and the Ami Campus housing Pusan National University Hospital. Among these, the Busan Campus, home to nine colleges and graduate schools, faces a severe shortage of land and is considered saturated, making it difficult to accommodate additional personnel from the teacher training college.

Furthermore, relocating Busan National University of Education to the main campus faces opposition from the university itself and the local community. There are concerns that the institution’s 80-year history, expertise, and identity as a specialized teacher training college could be lost entirely. Additionally, the absence of a university presence in Yeonje-gu, where Busan National University of Education is located, could lead to a decline in foot traffic, contraction of the commercial district, and overall regional decline.

Fortunately, the physical distance between the two campuses is relatively short. Located 3.67 km apart in a straight line, the two universities are within easy reach: a 20-minute city bus ride, four subway stops, or a 10-minute drive. According to the revised merger application submitted by both universities, PNU plans to enhance inter-campus mobility and exchange by expanding shuttle bus services, introducing a class day system, and securing additional rest areas.

Regarding this, PNU currently has no finalized plans and thus has no specific response to offer. Having submitted a proposal for establishing a merger implementation plan to the MOE on July 30th, PNU is now preparing for discussions on tasks involved merger execution. Earlier, PNU President Choi Jae-Weon stated in an interview with “Channel PNU” on June 4th, “Given that a significant amount of tax money, 170 billion won, is being invested, we must demonstrate visible changes and tangible results for the development of both universities and education.”

Reporter Ryu Hae-Joo

Translated by Channel PNU