By Ian Werther in News — 19 Mar 2026

S Korea Eyes Regional Growth With Culture, Tourism and 10 Seoul National Universities

President Lee Jae-myung urged his aides to present bold ideas for highlighting regional culture and boosting local tourism during a Blue House meeting on regional economic revival held on the 19th. The briefing was led by the president at Cheong Wa Dae, the South Korean executive residence and offices.

Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong described the president’s request as a call for innovative concepts to showcase each region’s distinctive sights and experiences, with an emphasis on expanding tourism beyond major cities. He also asked aides to study tourism-activation measures once implemented by former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Three Sisters, Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales, AustraliaThe Blue Mountains National Park is located west of Sydney and is one of Australia’s most famous natural areas. Its history is closely linked to Aboriginal culture, particularly that of the Gundungurra and Darug peoples, who have inhabited the area for tens of thousands of years and have a spiritual connection to the landscape.For European settlers, the rugged sandstone plateaus were long considered an insurmountable obstacle. It was not until 1813 that Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson, and William Charles Wentworth succeeded in crossing the mountains, opening the way for the development of the Australian hinterland.In the 19th century, parts of the region were used for logging and mining, while at the same time its scenic appeal was discovered. In 1959, the Blue Mountains National Park was officially established to protect the unique eucalyptus vegetation, deep gorges, and waterfalls.In 2000, UNESCO declared the area part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area a World Heritage Site. Today, the park stands for nature conservation, tourism, and recognition of Australia’s indigenous cultural history. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The discussion at the meeting covered several policy directions. In addition to tourism, participants looked at plans to strengthen regional economic hubs, including a push to develop flagship national universities and to invigorate local commercial districts and regional construction activity.

Among the policies discussed was a plan described as “Make 10 Seoul National Universities,” part of broader efforts to nurture national research and higher education institutions that can serve regional development. Seoul National University is Korea’s premier national university, and the idea signals potential expansion of its model to other institutions.

The session underscored Korea’s interest in leveraging culture, education, and regional commerce as engines of growth. By drawing on experiences abroad, including Japan’s approach to tourism, Seoul aims to diversify economic activity away from the capital and neighboring metropolitan areas.

This photograph was taken during the Meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, that held at the ITC Sonar hotel, 1 JBS Haldane Avenue, Kolkata for three hours. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

For U.S. readers, the implications extend to technology, higher education, and supply chains. A push to expand flagship national universities could affect collaboration opportunities with American universities and research institutes, as well as talent pipelines in high-tech sectors such as semiconductors and AI. Strengthened regional tourism and culture industries may influence cross-border consumer markets and branding tied to Korean media and entertainment.

The meeting at Cheong Wa Dae reflects ongoing efforts to shape long-term economic and educational policy in Korea. While the outcomes are not announced, the discussions signal potential shifts in how Korea balances regional development with national priorities and international cooperation.

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