Chungnam National University President Kim Jeong-kyoum speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the university campus in Daejeon, Feb. 20. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how universities teach and learn, Chungnam National University is setting its sights on becoming a leader in AI-driven education in Korea.

University President Kim Jeong-kyoum said the central question for higher education institutions is how they understand and approach artificial intelligence, urging them to embrace the sweeping changes the technology is expected to bring.

“AI will undoubtedly bring significant changes across industries and in our daily lives,” Kim told The Korea Times in a recent interview. “Universities need to approach this shift with an open mindset and be ready to accept it. I want Chungnam National University to become a university that uses AI better than anyone else.”

While acknowledging that the term “AI-leading university” has become something of a cliche, Kim said the university’s real focus is on integrating AI meaningfully into education.

“We want to teach students how to use AI effectively in practice,” he said, adding that the university is considering incorporating AI-related elements into more than 30 percent of its curriculum. “Professors need to use and understand AI themselves in order to teach it properly, and students also need systematic training on how to use these tools well.”

Kim said those who actively use AI are better positioned to understand how it should be applied, managed and supervised.

He added that the university has already received inquiries from overseas institutions interested in jointly developing AI-related education programs.

Officials pose after the opening ceremony of the Glocal Lab research institute in South Chungcheong Province, Nov. 11, 2025. Courtesy of Chungnam National University

Another key priority is overhauling the university’s administrative system using AI. “Administration is often the hardest part of a university to change,” Kim said. “That’s why we believe introducing AI into administrative systems first could be particularly meaningful.”

Source: Korea Times News