[Initial Viewpoint] If You Aspire to Be the Commander of Education Reform

No Explanation for Plagiarism and Salami Slicing Allegations
Unclear Vision and Philosophy for Primary and Secondary Education
Must Demonstrate Qualifications for Minister at Confirmation Hearing

The controversy surrounding Lee Jinsuk, the nominee for Minister of Education, is intensifying. Lee is known as the first female president of Chungnam National University and the first female president among flagship national universities.

She was also deeply involved in President Lee Jaemyung's "Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" project, which he pledged as part of his campaign. Considering her career, it cannot be said that she is unqualified to serve as Minister of Education, a position tasked by the new administration with restoring public education and leading educational transformation for the future.

Lee Jinsuk, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education nominee, arrived at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the Korea Educational Facilities Safety Institute in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 30th, responding to reporters' questions. 2025.06.30 Photo by Yoon Dongju

However, especially for the position of Minister of Education, such qualifications alone are not sufficient. In addition to a deep understanding of policy, the nominee must be evaluated for her educational philosophy and moral integrity, serving as a role model for others. There should be no room for labels such as "female leader who broke the glass ceiling" to influence this process.

Since Lee's nomination, there have been numerous opinions stating that it is difficult to give her a positive assessment. Various questions have arisen about her, but there have been no clear or satisfactory explanations.

First, Lee faces allegations of plagiarism in her academic papers. Reports have stated that while serving as a professor in the Department of Architectural Engineering at Chungnam National University, she published at least ten papers similar to her students' master's and doctoral theses. A 2003 paper published in the Architectural Institute of Korea was found to have significant overlap with a thesis written by her student the previous year, and the same was true for a 2009 paper. Lee is said to have been listed as the first author on these papers. This has led to claims that she appropriated her students' research achievements. Of course, it is possible to argue that "when professors lead large-scale projects, there can be overlap with students' work." However, the fact that she did not cite her students' research results when submitting these papers still requires explanation. Even if the papers summarized parts of a project, it is difficult to say that publishing them without proper citation or acknowledgment of contributions meets academic ethical standards. There are also suspicions of "salami slicing" of research. For example, a 2018 paper in the Korean Society of Color Studies and another in the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers have been noted for their similarities.

Allegations of plagiarism against someone aspiring to lead the Ministry of Education cannot be dismissed as a simple issue of personal morality. They are directly tied to the credibility of the education sector. Several previous ministerial nominees have withdrawn due to similar suspicions. While some have argued that the scrutiny and criticism are excessively harsh compared to reality, I believe it is preferable to uphold high standards rather than compromise or overlook such issues, especially when it comes to "education." Lee must not avoid these questions but should actively provide explanations. Only then can she earn public trust.

Some in the education community are also curious about Lee's vision and philosophy regarding elementary and secondary education. Although Lee has stated that she will "listen to the advice of experts," many believe this is not enough.

The Minister of Education must address and implement complex and critical issues such as the high school credit system, AI digital textbooks, integration of early childhood and childcare education, and reforms to the university admissions process, all of which are closely linked to the future of South Korea. This is why philosophy, drive, and trust are essential. It may be difficult to demonstrate all of these qualities in a single-day confirmation hearing, but at the very least, she must answer the question of whether she is truly capable of fulfilling these responsibilities.