Creating 'Minor Co-Authoring Paper Guide' in the Second Half of This Year

No Jeong-hye, President of the National Research Foundation of Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] "We plan to establish a Research Ethics Support Center within the National Research Foundation of Korea in the second half of this year. We will strengthen activities to establish research ethics, including the establishment of co-authorship guidelines for minors and stakeholders."

No Jeong-hye, Chairperson of the National Research Foundation of Korea, stated this during a press conference held at a restaurant near Gwanghwamun on the 5th. She said, "We plan to expand the research ethics task force formed last year into a support center."

Establishment of Co-authorship Guidelines for Minors and Stakeholders

No Jeong-hye, Chairperson of the National Research Foundation of Korea, attended the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee's audit of the National Research Foundation of Korea on the 10th, reviewing documents with a serious expression. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The Research Foundation is currently operating a research ethics task force with three members and is planning to reinforce it with eight more members to upgrade it to a support center. The first mission of the Research Ethics Support Center is to develop guidelines for establishing research ethics. This will include a standard model for research ethics regulations for universities and academic societies, co-authorship guidelines for minors and stakeholders, and distinctions between research misconduct and inappropriate conduct.

Chairperson No explained, "While the center will have roles such as verifying research misconduct cases commissioned by government ministries and discovering research ethics policies, it will also be responsible for education to prevent research misconduct from occurring." The Research Foundation is planning an International Research Ethics Forum in September.

"Primary Investigation of Research Misconduct Cases is Conducted by the Respective University"

Photo of Cho Kuk, nominee for Minister of Justice, commuting to the office prepared for the confirmation hearing last year at Jeokseon Hyundai Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The Research Foundation's work related to research ethics came into the spotlight during the National Assembly audit when concerns were raised about a medical paper authored as first author by Cho Min, daughter of Professor Cho Kuk, who received research funding from the foundation. At that time, opposition lawmakers pointed out that the Research Foundation should investigate misconduct in papers supported by the foundation.

Chairperson No emphasized again on this day, as during the audit, that "according to relevant regulations, the primary investigation of research misconduct cases is conducted by the university ethics committee." In Cho Min's case, the Dankook University Research Ethics Committee first makes a judgment, and if there is an objection, the Research Foundation steps in. However, she added, "Since there are continuous concerns raised by the government and the National Assembly about the issue of unjust authorship in papers, we plan to monitor this continuously."

Integrated Response Needed for Novel Coronavirus

The National Research Foundation of Korea is an institution for the efficient operation of the national basic research system. This year, it is investing a budget of 6.8868 trillion KRW to support research and development (4.1718 trillion KRW), human resource development (1.7151 trillion KRW), and research promotion (865.7 billion KRW). Especially this year, it plans to expand support for early-career researchers, introduce support systems by academic fields such as mathematics, and carry out new projects (KIURI) to attract science and engineering PhDs who remain in universities into the industry.

Meanwhile, regarding the academic community's call for proactive research on the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) outbreak, Chairperson No responded, "The novel coronavirus is a zoonotic virus. In such cases, it is necessary for the Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to approach it as one. Basic research and national-level efforts must be conducted simultaneously." Chairperson No holds a PhD in molecular biology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.