[Exclusive] People Power Party's 'Contest Plagiarism' Scandal: Son Chang-hyun Abruptly Dismissed

Confirmed Activities of Son Chang-hyun from People Power Party Winning Various Contests Through 'Plagiarism'
People Power Party Decides Immediate Dismissal of Son Chang-hyun on 18th
Son Chang-hyun: "I Accept the Dismissal Decision and Reflect... Sorry for Causing Trouble"

Son Chang-hyun, who caused social controversy by obtaining various illicit profits such as winning collaborative works through plagiarism of novels and other people's works, has been dismissed from the People Power Party's Defense and Security Subcommittee where he was active. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] It was confirmed on the 20th that Son Chang-hyun, who is suspected of plagiarizing novels written by others to receive literary awards, has been dismissed from the Defense and Security Subcommittee of the People Power Party.

The People Power Party emphasized that there will be no reversal regarding this decision, including the disciplinary reconsideration of Mr. Son. Mr. Son stated that although there may be procedural issues with the disciplinary action, he will accept the dismissal decision due to the social controversy it caused.

Son, who has been heavily criticized socially for winning various literary awards through plagiarism such as unauthorized citation of novels, was appointed as the vice chairman and chairman of the Defense and Security Subcommittee of the 1st Central Committee of the People Power Party on November 19 last year.

At that time, Mr. Son posted on his Facebook, "It was a time when I could hear broad and subjective opinions together with Kim Seong-tae, Central Committee Chairman (former floor leader and three-term National Assembly member), and Kim Yong-heon, Defense and Security Subcommittee Chairman (former Capital Defense Commanding General, Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Headquarters Chief)," and revealed the appointment letter he received from the People Power Party.

On November 19 last year, Mr. Son Chang-hyun was appointed as a member of the People Power Party's Defense and Security Subcommittee. The photo shows the committee member appointment certificate, which even bears the seal of Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in. Photo by Son Chang-hyun, captured from Facebook.

The appointment letter stated, "Appointed as a member of the Defense and Security Subcommittee of the Central Committee of the People Power Party. November 19, 2020, Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party." The seal of Chairman Kim was also stamped. Holding the appointment letter, Mr. Son took commemorative photos with Kim Seong-tae, then Central Committee Chairman, and other People Power Party officials.

However, as suspicions arose recently that Mr. Son’s works submitted to various contests were plagiarized or entirely copied from others, the People Power Party dismissed him from the Defense and Security Subcommittee on the 18th.

A People Power Party official told Asia Economy, "It is true that Son Chang-hyun was dismissed," adding, "He caused various social controversies. There will be no reconsideration or reexamination of the disciplinary decision."

In response to this decision by the People Power Party, Mr. Son initially raised procedural issues such as not having an opportunity to explain before dismissal, but he later stated that he would accept the dismissal decision due to the various social controversies and repercussions he caused.

Mr. Son said, "I will accept the People Power Party’s dismissal decision cleanly," adding, "I have no intention of raising procedural issues or anything like that. I apologize for causing social problems."

Photo by novelist Kim Min-jung, Facebook capture

Earlier, on the 16th, Kim Min-jung, who won the 2018 Baekma Culture Award for her short story "Root," posted on her Facebook that "the entire text of my novel was plagiarized without permission, and the person who plagiarized my novel won awards in as many as five literary contests in 2020."

According to Ms. Kim, Mr. Son received five awards: the 16th Sakae Kim Jang-saeng Literary Award Newcomer Prize, the 2020 Pocheon 38 Literary Award University Division Grand Prize, the 7th Gyeongbuk Ilbo Literary Competition Honorable Mention, the 2nd Glory Senior New Year's Literary Contest Winner, and the Quarterly Novel Aesthetics 2021 New Year's Issue Newcomer Prize.

Previously, in July last year, Mr. Son posted on his Facebook, "I am neither a writer nor a novelist," along with photos certifying the 'Pocheon 38 Literary Award' plaque and the novel published in the award-winning anthology.

Regarding this, Mr. Son expressed his apology, saying, "I want to sincerely apologize to the many writers who were harmed because of me, as well as to the public."