As regional universities step up efforts to attract and retain international students beyond the Seoul metropolitan area, Chonnam National University is seeking to position itself at the forefront — offering cradle-to-career support from admission through long-term settlement, while building on its expanding strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). “Our goal is to further solidify the university’s standing as a prestigious institution that nurtures global talent — one that grows together with the region, reaches out to the world and leads the future,” Chonnam National University President Lee Keun-bae said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. Declaring this year the launch of a major global leap, the university plans to establish a dedicated Office of International Affairs to consolidate all functions related to globalization. The new office will integrate responsibilities currently handled by the international cooperation division under the Office of Public Affairs, creating a centralized system to support the university’s growing international s