[2022 National Audit] Clash Over Witness for 'Kim Geon-hee Thesis'... Criticism of Kookmin University and Sookmyung Women's University Presidents for Avoidance Business Trips

Opposition Demands Accompaniment Order for Professor Jeon Seung-gyu Who Supervised Mrs. Kim's Thesis
President of Kookmin University on Mongolia Business Trip, Allegations of False Data Submission Raised
Ruling Party Draws Line Saying Mrs. Kim's Thesis Not a Matter for National Assembly Audit

Yoo Ki-hong, Chairman of the National Assembly Education Committee, is presiding over the full meeting of the Education Committee held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] At the National Assembly Education Committee's audit, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the adoption of witnesses related to First Lady Kim Geon-hee's thesis. Opposition lawmakers also strongly criticized the presidents of Kookmin University and Sookmyung Women's University for leaving the country to avoid the audit.

At the Ministry of Education audit on the 4th, opposition lawmakers requested the committee to approve a summons order so that Jeon Seung-gyu, Kim's thesis advisor and professor of the Department of Visual Design at Kookmin University, could appear as a witness even after finishing his classes.

Moon Jung-bok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "The witnesses related to the thesis fled overseas and submitted excuses citing classes, but since classes end at 5 p.m., please approve the summons order. I believe that having Professor Jeon Seung-gyu, the thesis advisor, come forward and tell the truth is the final way to clarify First Lady Kim's thesis."

Moon also pointed out, "Despite the public already knowing through multiple verification stages that the thesis is false, the failure to conduct a reinvestigation or ascertain the facts raises a reasonable suspicion that there were formal procedural deficiencies in the thesis certification process."

In response, Yoo Ki-hong, chairman of the committee (Democratic Party), said, "To approve a summons order, the session must be converted to a standing committee, and changes to the agenda require consultation among the floor leaders. There are presidents who suddenly left for overseas business trips during the semester, and CEOs of large companies returning after the audit schedule is also not considered normal."

There were also criticisms that Kookmin University was negligent in submitting materials. Kang Min-jung, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "The Ministry of Education has an obligation to ensure Kookmin University submits materials requested by the National Assembly and that witnesses appear, but Kookmin University is refusing based on the Research Ethics Committee regulations. About ten materials, including preliminary investigation and result reports requested through the audit resolution, schedules and participants of the Kookmin University Research Ethics Committee meetings, and written responses submitted by First Lady Kim, have not been submitted," she pointed out.

Yoo Ki-hong, Chairman of the National Assembly Education Committee, is presiding over the full meeting of the Education Committee held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Regarding the plagiarism allegations of First Lady Kim's thesis, the two university presidents who were adopted as witnesses but did not appear citing overseas business trips were criticized for "escape trips." Lim Hong-jae, president of Kookmin University, left for Mongolia and is scheduled to return on the 10th, while Jang Yoon-geum, president of Sookmyung Women's University, is visiting Europe and the United States and is scheduled to return on the 23rd.

Independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae said, "Among the two presidents who fled overseas, especially Kookmin University's president went on a business trip to Mongolia. He was invited on April 14 but did not respond until now. He had no intention to go but fled because the audit schedule conflicted. He was supposed to visit the KOICA Mongolia office but did not attend at all. This is a false document submission and an escape to avoid appearing as a witness at the audit. He must be summoned as a witness. If he does not appear, he should be reported under Articles 12 and 15 of the Witness Testimony Act," he pointed out.

Kim Young-ho, a Democratic Party floor leader, said, "The KOICA Mongolia office said they had never heard of the Kookmin University president's visit schedule, even though the business trip itinerary included a KOICA Mongolia office visit. The excuse letter only attached the business trip schedule but no supporting documents like flight tickets. It is suspicious whether he actually went on the trip. We should request a copy of the flight ticket," he pointed out.

There were also calls for submission of flight tickets and accommodation reservation details related to Jang Yoon-geum, president of Sookmyung Women's University's Europe and U.S. business trip.

Kim Young-ho said, "The business trip proposal was submitted on September 23, the same day she was adopted as a witness for the audit. The departure date was October 1, and the return date was the 23rd, which raises suspicion of an avoidance schedule. She said she was meeting the alumni association in the Americas, but when contacted, the alumni association said the meeting was convened because the president was coming. The business trip cost for the Sookmyung University president alone exceeds 100 million won. She should stop spending money like that and return quickly," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, ruling party lawmakers criticized the opposition for unilaterally passing the witness adoption proposal and drew a line saying it was not an audit matter.

Kim Byung-wook, a member of the People Power Party, said, "It was rude and shameless for the Democratic Party to unilaterally submit and rush the witness attendance issue without consultation or understanding with the ruling party at the scene. Since the universities have already concluded on the plagiarism issue, this is not an audit matter. Stop the excessive political attack on the president's wife and conduct a proper audit," he pointed out.

Seo Byung-soo, a member of the People Power Party, said, "First Lady Kim wrote the thesis before she held any public position and before marriage. It is Kookmin University's responsibility. It is regrettable that the thesis written by Kim as a civilian is being made the subject of an audit and causing controversy until now. The forcibly adopted witness selection should be withdrawn," he argued.