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Busan Metropolitan City Secures Three Additional Selections for the 2025 Ministry of Climate Specialized Graduate Schools, Fostering Core Talent in Green Convergence Technologies

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that Pusan National University and Dong-A University have been newly selected in three fields—Green Restoration, Biomaterials, and Fine Dust Management—under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment’s call for applications for specialized graduate schools.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (hereinafter “the Ministry”) issued an integrated announcement on September 23 to foster core talent capable of developing green technologies and leading green industries in response to the climate crisis. The call sought applicants for six fields—Green Restoration, Biomaterials, Fine Dust Management, Plastic Phaseout, Green Finance, and Integrated Environmental Management—recruiting a total of 17 universities.

Through this call, universities in Busan were selected in three fields and will receive a total of approximately KRW 12.4 billion in national funding over a period of up to five years.

[Green Restoration]
The program led by Professor Kwon Soon-cheol of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Pusan National University aims to cultivate practical talent capable of planning, designing, and evaluating projects using advanced technologies. The program will receive KRW 800 million annually (KRW 4 billion over five years).

[Biomaterials]
The program led by Professor Jung Young-soo of the Department of Biomaterials Engineering at Dong-A University aims to train high-level specialists who can enhance the value of biomaterials by applying advanced technologies. The program will receive approximately KRW 1 billion in annual national funding (approximately KRW 4.9 billion over five years).

[Fine Dust Management]
The program led by Professor Choi Hyun-joon of the Environmental Safety major at Dong-A University was selected to train advanced talent in comprehensive fine dust management to address industry needs in resolving fine particulate matter issues. The program will receive KRW 700 million annually (KRW 3.5 billion over five years).

With these selections, universities in Busan have secured five specialized graduate schools in 2025 alone. Over the next five years, they are expected to nurture more than 380 highly skilled green convergence technology professionals with total national funding of approximately KRW 16.5 billion.

Earlier in March 2025, Pusan National University (Professor Jeong Ji-hwan, Department of Mechanical Engineering) was selected for the Hydrothermal Energy field, and Pukyong National University (Professor Oh Pil-geon, Department of Nano Convergence Semiconductor Engineering) was selected for the Waste Battery Recycling field. Both universities are currently training master's and doctoral students.

The City expects that these achievements will accelerate the establishment of a carbon-neutral industrial ecosystem spanning the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region, as well as the development of a comprehensive talent cultivation system for the carbon-neutral sector.

In addition, following these designations, Busan Metropolitan City will continue to provide administrative support to promote the transition toward carbon neutrality and encourage mutual growth between regional universities and the industrial ecosystem.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “Training high-level professionals grounded in cutting-edge green convergence technologies is essential for transforming Busan’s industries into carbon-neutral systems in response to the climate crisis,” adding, “The selection of regional universities as specialized graduate schools in green industry fields will serve as a crucial catalyst in advancing green technologies and next-generation industries in Busan.”