Kookmin University Faculty Association "Ministry of Education Must Directly Order Investigation of Kookmin University"

To the Ministry of Education: "Requesting Kookmin University to Present an Investigation Plan as It Cannot Start the Main Investigation"
Also to the President of Kookmin University: "Clarify School Regulations, Reasons for Application, and Follow-up Plans"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The faculty association of Kookmin University has urged the Ministry of Education to directly order Kookmin University to conduct a formal investigation regarding the doctoral dissertation controversy involving Kim Geon-hee, wife of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.

On the 19th, the Kookmin University faculty association stated in a position letter and public inquiry sent to the Minister of Education, "We demand that the Ministry of Education order the implementation of a formal investigation."

The faculty association said, "Although Kookmin University cannot initiate a formal investigation under current regulations, the Ministry of Education continues to send official letters only requesting the submission of an investigation plan."

The faculty association emphasized, "Even if the Ministry of Education directly orders verification, if the university administration does not comply, the faculty association will step in to demand verification, and if that fails, the faculty association will conduct research ethics verification of this dissertation independently."

The Kookmin University faculty association also sent an official letter to the university president, demanding, "The school authorities should promptly provide faculty members with a detailed explanation of the incident’s background, the university regulations and reasons for their application, and the follow-up plans."

The faculty association demanded the university prepare ▲ explanations from the Graduate School of Techno Design and the dissertation advisor and review committee members involved ▲ measures from the president and university management to restore the pride and honor of the Kookmin University community ▲ and steps to enhance transparency and accountability in the dissertation supervision process.

By June 13, the Kookmin University faculty association held an internal vote on whether to express an opinion on the re-investigation of Kim’s doctoral dissertation. Neither the 'active response' (53.2%) nor the 'non-response' (46.8%) side secured more than two-thirds of the votes, resulting in the dismissal of the agenda.

Kim received her doctoral degree in 2008 from Kookmin University’s Graduate School of Techno Design with a dissertation titled "A Study on the Development of Fortune-telling Content Using Avatars: Focusing on the Development and Market Application of 'Anita'." In July, when plagiarism allegations were raised regarding Kim’s doctoral dissertation, Kookmin University’s Research Ethics Committee announced through a preliminary investigation committee that the statute of limitations for verification had expired and that a formal investigation would not be conducted. The Ministry of Education revised the "Guidelines for Securing Research Ethics" in 2011 to abolish the statute of limitations and recommended all universities do the same, using this as grounds to order Kookmin University to establish a re-investigation plan.

The Ministry of Education required Kookmin University to submit a re-verification plan for Kim’s dissertation by the 18th and ordered the immediate implementation of an internal investigation into Kim’s doctoral examination process. Kookmin University submitted an official letter on the 17th, and the Ministry of Education plans to announce related details later.