Flagship Korean National Universities

Korean Flagship National Universities (Korean: 거점국립대) has been created by South Korean government to lead the development of South Korea into the developed country through providing the highest educational instutions nationwide. Korean government created one flagship national university for each province between 1946 and 1968 when South Korea was consist of 2 independent cities and 8 provinces. 10 Korean Flagship National Universities have been taking roles as the leading national institutes of higher education in South Korea.

After Korean independence in 1945, Korean government had been discussed to establish the flagship national university to provide the highest education in the country to provide the elites to develop the country. Seoul National University and Pusan National University were created in 1946 as fully established two flagship national universities. Korea Maritime University was also created same time as national university and 3 regional colleges in Deagu also agreed to create the national university in 1946, which is nowadays Kyungpook National University. Korea Maritime University has not been granted the status an an Flagship National University, but Kyungpook National University had been granted the status as an Flagship National University afterwards in 1951.

Most of Korean flagship National universities were created by merging previously existing regional colleges. The year of the establishment is when schools get the National University status by Korean government.

All 10 Korean Flagship National Universities have medical schools. Seoul National University has the largest medical school in South Korea, followed by Pusan National University and Chonnam National University. Among 10 largest medical schools in South Korea, 6 medical schools are belonging to Korean Flagship National Universities.

Among 11 schools of dental medicine in South Korea, 5 schools are belonging to Korean Flagship National Universities. Seoul National University has the largest school of dental medicine in South Korea, followed by Pusan National University.
Pusan National University has one and only graduate school of oriental medicine in South Korea.

All Korean Flagship National Universities except Gyeongsang National University have law schools. Seoul National University has the largest law school in South Korea, followed by Pusan National University, Kyungpook National University and Chonnam National University. Among 10 largest law schools in South Korea, 6 law schools are belonging to Korean Flagship National Universities.

10 Korean Flagship National Universities are consist of

*Cheju National University - Jeju City, Jeju founded in 1952
*Chonbuk National University - Jeonju, Chonbuk founded in 1947
*Chonnam National University - Gwangju founded in 1952
*Chungbuk National University - Cheongju, Chungbuk founded in 1962
*Chungnam National University - Daejeon founded in 1952
*Gyeongsang National University - Jinju, Gyeongnam founded in 1968
*Kangwon National University - Chunchon, Kangwon founded in June 1947
*Kyungpook National University - Daegu founded in September 1946
*Pusan National University - Busan founded in May 1946
*Seoul National University - Seoul founded in August 1946