Kookmin University Faculty Association "Vote on Pros and Cons of Self-Verification Composition for Kim Geon-hee's Thesis"

Faculty Association Emergency General Meeting Held
"Deep Regret Over Social Controversy Related to Papers"
"Difficult to Agree That Plagiarism Rate Is Not Serious"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Gyumin and Gong Byungseon] Professors at Kookmin University will hold a vote on whether to support or oppose the reexamination of the doctoral dissertation of Kim Gun-hee, the spouse of President Yoon Seok-yeol.

The Kookmin University Professors' Association held an emergency online general meeting on the 12th and stated, "All members of the Kookmin University Professors' Association express deep regret over the recent social controversy surrounding the doctoral dissertation of Kim Gun-hee from the Graduate School of Techno Design."

The association pointed out, "The plagiarism rate cited as evidence that the university's reexamination committee found no plagiarism was based on results from a specific program (Copykiller)," and added, "It is difficult to agree with subjective judgments such as 'generally' or 'not serious'."

While most attendees agreed on forming an independent verification committee to reexamine the dissertation for plagiarism, the association noted, "The number of attendees did not meet the quorum," and stated, "We will promptly conduct a vote among all professor members to confirm support or opposition and respond according to the results."

The voting agenda includes ▲ disclosure of the reexamination committee's final report and meeting minutes on Kim's doctoral dissertation (with anonymization) and ▲ whether to form a verification committee within the professors' association to conduct an independent review.

Earlier, on the 1st, Kookmin University announced that the reexamination found no research misconduct regarding three papers, including Kim's doctoral dissertation. One academic paper was judged as "unable to verify."