Additional Verification of 4 Missing Papers in Reference List
"Immediately Hold Research Ethics Integrity Committee"
Sookmyung Women's University Side "Not Yet at a Stage to Make a Statement"
There has been a claim that First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, has a plagiarism rate of at least 48.1% in her thesis. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The Sookmyung Women’s University Democratic Alumni Association announced that its independent verification of First Lady Kim Keon-hee’s thesis plagiarism rate ranges from a minimum of 48.1% to a maximum of 54.9%.
On the 10th, the Alumni Association released a statement revealing the results of their independent verification of Kim’s 1999 master’s thesis titled "A Study on the Characteristics of Paul Klee’s Paintings." This verification was conducted primarily by current professors at Sookmyung Women’s University through a three-stage comparison process carried out from the end of last month until the 9th.
According to the Alumni Association, the plagiarism rate was 48.1% in the first stage of investigation, which excluded identical quotations and footnotes within plagiarized paragraphs. In the second stage, which included identical quotations within plagiarized paragraphs, the plagiarism rate rose slightly to 53.7%. In the third stage, which examined similarities in content development and argumentation style with other theses, the plagiarism rate reached 54.9%. The Alumni Association also claimed to have discovered that four theses omitted from the bibliography were used without citation.
The Alumni Association pointed out, "(The school) has not held a meeting to decide on a full investigation for five months after completing the preliminary investigation, and following the announcement of Kim Keon-hee’s doctoral degree retention at Kookmin University amid public outrage, the ongoing plagiarism review process of her master’s thesis at her alma mater is also being criticized." They added, "We, the alumni who have demanded a prompt and fair process, find the current situation extremely deplorable."
Part of the results from the independent investigation conducted by the Sookmyung Women's University Democratic Alumni Association, focusing on current professors, regarding whether First Lady Kim Keon-hee's thesis involved plagiarism. Photo by Sookmyung Women's University Democratic Alumni Association
Furthermore, the Alumni Association urged the school to conduct a swift investigation. They stated, "Maintaining a degree for a thesis with a plagiarism rate exceeding 40% and avoiding plagiarism review is a very serious and grave matter," and demanded, "Immediately convene the Research Ethics and Integrity Committee."
As the plagiarism controversy intensified, Sookmyung Women’s University formed a preliminary investigation committee in February and completed the investigation. However, it has not convened the Research Ethics and Integrity Committee to decide on the necessity of a full investigation, thus failing to initiate it.
A Sookmyung Women’s University official told the media, "We are currently verifying the position stated by the Alumni Association," and added, "It is not yet at a stage where the school can organize and release an official stance on this matter."
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