[Exclusive] 'Unprecedented Plagiarism' Son Chang-hyun, Falsified Academic Background to Seek Employment

Son Chang-hyun, who indiscriminately plagiarized others' novels to sweep literary awards including prize money
Faked academic background for job hunting, took leave from Korea University graduate school → expelled
Disheartenment among 20s fairly preparing for employment
Son Chang-hyun apologizes, "I was expelled, now I am a master's, not a PhD"

A young job seeker is looking at the job board and engaging in job hunting activities. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Son Chang-hyun, who has caused a major social shock by plagiarizing novels written by others and sweeping various literary awards, has recently been revealed to have falsified his academic background when applying to a private company, sparking another controversy. This act obstructs fair competition by others and inevitably draws severe social and ethical criticism.

According to a report compiled by Asia Economy on the 21st, Son stated that he was enrolled in the doctoral program at Korea University Graduate School and was on leave of absence due to job preparation when applying to a company.

However, Son was actually expelled in 2019, not on leave. Regarding this, Son apologized and explained, "It is true that I was expelled, not on leave. I will now list my academic background as a master's degree, not a doctorate."

Son’s falsification of academic credentials during his job application activities carries a different social criticism impact compared to the earlier scandal of indiscriminate plagiarism and winning literary contests.

If Son had been finally accepted by a certain company as he wished, someone who had worked hard day and night preparing for employment would inevitably have failed the entrance exam.

A job seeker in their 20s who heard about Son’s job application activities lamented, "I just feel empty. Someone is desperately trying to find a job, and I don’t understand how someone could think like that." They added, "At least it’s really fortunate that he was not accepted."

Young people in their 20s are seeking jobs amid a shrinking employment market due to the novel coronavirus infection and other factors. [Image source=Yonhap News]

It is also legally problematic. The legal grounds for punishment regarding falsification such as academic background forgery include the Criminal Act and the Minor Offenses Act. According to Article 225 of the Criminal Act, anyone who forges or alters official documents or books of public officials or public institutions with the intent to forge or alter official documents shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 10 years. This applies if a certificate of enrollment or diploma is forged and used to falsify academic credentials.

Furthermore, Article 3 of the Minor Offenses Punishment Act stipulates that impersonating official titles such as domestic or foreign public office, rank, decoration, or academic degree as defined by law constitutes a minor offense, explicitly including academic degree impersonation as a type of minor offense under the law.

Considering that our society imposes strict penalties on admission and employment corruption, Son’s attempt to seek employment through falsified academic credentials inevitably becomes a subject of strong social condemnation.

Son, who engaged in indiscriminate plagiarism and also pursued employment activities, stated that he would bear all criticism directed at him.

He said, "All of this is my wrongdoing, and I must bear all the criticism. There is no excuse. I sincerely apologize once again for causing great social confusion."

Earlier, on the 16th, Son was accused of plagiarism by writer Kim Min-jung, who won the '2018 Baekma Cultural Award' for her short story 'Root.' Kim stated on her Facebook post that "the entire text of my novel was used without permission, and the person who plagiarized my novel won awards in five literary contests in 2020."

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

Meanwhile, regarding Son’s job application activities, a human resources official from a company emphasized that he should face severe social criticism. The official criticized, "If academic forgery is revealed, not only dismissal but also obstruction of business can be applied, holding him accountable. Above all, he should be morally condemned for obstructing fair competition among other candidates."