Analyzing the Impact of Successive Korean Governments' Higher Education Policies on University Departmental Structures

This study empirically analyzes how the higher education policies of successive Korean governments, from the Kim Young-sam administration to the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, have influenced changes in the structure of university academic departments. Utilizing data on departmental operations from the Korea Educational Development Institute between 2008 and 2024, the study examines changes in the number of departments by institution type, academic discipline, and region, and their relationship with government policies. Despite continued policy efforts toward enrollment reduction and structural reform, the total number of departments increased, reflecting universities’ strategic responses through diversification and specialization. Engineering and health-related fields expanded in response to industrial demand and government funding, while humanities and natural sciences faced repeated restructuring. The study highlights structural discrepancies across regions and institution types, and offers implications for the future direction of higher education policy.