[Exclusive] Minjoo Party to Push for 'Kim Geon-hee Thesis' Hearing in February National Assembly

National Assembly Education Committee Kim Young-ho, Ruling Party Secretary Interview
"Hearing on Allegations of Plagiarism in Kim Geon's Thesis"
Against Lim Hong-jae, President of Kookmin University, and Others

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea plans to hold a 'Kim Geon-hee Plagiarism Thesis Allegation Hearing' targeting Lim Hong-jae, president of Kookmin University, Jang Yoon-geum, president of Sookmyung Women’s University, and others during the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly. They also intend to take legal action against witnesses who avoided the last year’s October audit by citing overseas travel. With the launch of the 'Kim Geon-hee Stock Manipulation Investigation Task Force,' it is expected that the pressure for a comprehensive investigation into Kim Geon-hee will intensify.

On the 3rd, Kim Young-ho, the opposition party secretary of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, said in an interview with Asia Economy, "We will introduce a hearing targeting the chairman and president of Kookmin University, the president of Sookmyung Women’s University, and thesis advisors." The plan is to conduct this within the standing committee during the February extraordinary session. To hold the hearing, agreement with the ruling party members of the Education Committee is necessary. Since the Democratic Party is pushing for a hearing related to the plagiarism allegations following their offensive on the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation suspicions against Mrs. Kim, it is highly likely that the ruling party will not participate in the consultation.

Kim Young-ho, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

However, the Democratic Party intends to proceed with the plagiarism hearing for Mrs. Kim even if it means going it alone. Kim said, "We will try our best to reach an agreement with the ruling party," but added, "If the ruling party absolutely refuses to hold the hearing, we must hold it by force." He emphasized, "This is the time to show the power of the majority party," and expressed confidence that "even if we proceed forcibly, we will not be criticized by the public but rather applauded." Since the hearing aims to thoroughly investigate the plagiarism allegations and resolve public doubts, it is interpreted that there is less burden in proceeding unilaterally compared to other contentious bills.

Kim also said, "Not only the presidents but also Kim Ji-yong, chairman of Kookmin University, will be subject to the hearing," adding, "Thesis advisors related to the case will also be included." The doctoral thesis at the center of the plagiarism controversy at Kookmin University had five reviewers: Professor Oh Seung-hwan (chairman of the thesis review committee), Professor Jeon Seung-gyu, Professor Ban Young-hwan, Professor Song Seong-jae of Hoseo University, and Professor Oh Myung-hoon, former professor at Korea National University of Arts.

The National Assembly’s Education Committee had summoned the chairman and president of Kookmin University, the president of Sookmyung Women’s University, and related thesis advisors as witnesses during last year’s audit, but most submitted absence notices and did not appear. Opposition education committee members criticized the timing of business trips and flight ticket issuance dates coinciding with the witness resolution as 'business trips to avoid the audit,' and condemned, "Refusing to appear as a witness due to hastily arranged overseas schedules is a violation of the law and a disregard for the public." Ultimately, Lim Hong-jae, president of Kookmin University, and Jang Yoon-geum, president of Sookmyung Women’s University, appeared near the end of the audit schedule, but it was evaluated that there was insufficient time for thorough questioning.

Kim said, "Lim Hong-jae and Jang Yoon-geum suddenly went on overseas trips during the audit period, but after strong opposition from opposition lawmakers, they returned on the weekend and could only participate in the audit for a short time. Kim Ji-yong, chairman, also returned only after the audit ended," and added, "We will definitely introduce a hearing." He emphasized, "We did not take legal action against the refusal to appear during the last audit, but this time we will also take additional legal action."

If the hearing proceeds, it is interpreted as a warning not to create 'loopholes' like during the last audit. Jang Yoon-geum, who was involved in the 'escape business trip' controversy during last year’s audit, was elected president of the Korea Association of Private University Presidents (KAPUP) this year. Recently, KAPUP recommended Jang Je-guk, president of Dongseo University, as a candidate for the next president of the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE). President Jang is also the elder brother of Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party. Kim said, "What kind of university president remains silent in the face of public suspicion?" and firmly stated, "We will not give up on the hearings for the presidents of Kookmin University and Sookmyung Women’s University until the end."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Mrs. Kim obtained her master’s thesis from Sookmyung Women’s University and her doctoral thesis from Kookmin University. However, both theses have been embroiled in plagiarism controversies. In the case of Sookmyung Women’s University, the alumni association’s independent verification found a minimum plagiarism rate of 48.1%. Kookmin University stated in August last year that three of Mrs. Kim’s four papers, including the doctoral thesis, did not constitute research misconduct, and the remaining academic paper was deemed unverifiable, ultimately concluding that it was "not plagiarism." Subsequently, a vote was held among Kookmin University’s faculty on whether to conduct an independent verification, but 61.5% (193 members) opposed it, deciding not to proceed. Sookmyung Women’s University is currently conducting a full investigation into Mrs. Kim’s master’s thesis, with results expected as early as March.