Korean Flagship National Universities (Korean: 거점국립대, Hanja: 據點國立大) has been created by South Korean government to lead the development of South Korea into a developed country through providing the highest educational institutions nationwide. Korean government created one flagship national university for each province between 1946 and 1968 when South Korea was consisting 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 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 at the same time as national university and 3 regional colleges in Daegu also agreed to create the national university in 1946, which is nowadays Kyungpook National University. Korea Maritime University has not been granted the status as a Flagship National University, but Kyungpook National University had been granted the status as a 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 (entrance quota: 135), followed by Pusan National University (125), Chonnam National University (125) and Chungnam National University (110). Among the 10 largest medical schools in South Korea, 6 medical schools belong to Korean Flagship National Universities.
Among 11 schools of dental medicine in South Korea, 5 schools belong 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:
| University | Entrance quota |
|---|---|
| Seoul National University | 150 |
| Pusan National University | 120 |
| Kyungpook National University | 120 |
| Chonnam National University | 120 |
| Chungnam National University | 100 |
Among the 10 largest law schools in South Korea, 6 law schools belong to Korean Flagship National Universities.
The 10 Korean Flagship National Universities consist of