Recruiting Professors from Non-Metropolitan Area Universities to the Metropolitan Area Universities in South Korea

This study examines the recruitment patterns and professional networks of faculty members from non-metropolitan universities who have been appointed to institutions in Korea's metropolitan region. The research analyzed faculty recruitment data from 23 universities, comprising 15 institutions in Seoul and 8 in Incheon/Gyeonggi-do regions, collected between January and February 2023. Through comprehensive analysis of alma mater distribution and employment status, 89 faculty members were identified as research subjects. The findings revealed that faculty members from non-metropolitan universities were predominantly concentrated in mid to lower-tier metropolitan institutions, with doctoral degree holders from non-metropolitan universities being particularly underrepresented. STERGM analysis demonstrated a gradual expansion of recruitment networks between metropolitan and non-metropolitan universities over time, though the overall level of integration remains limited. This empirical analysis contributes significantly to understanding faculty recruitment dynamics through a social class perspective and provides valuable insights for developing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Korean higher education.