Alumni of Kookmin University Return Diplomas Urging Reexamination of 'Kim Geon-hee Thesis'

Kookmin University Alumni Emergency Committee Demands "Do Not Avoid Paper Verification and Conduct Reexamination"

The National University Alumni Emergency Committee held a press conference in front of the main building of Kookmin University in Jeongneung-dong, Seoul, urging a "re-examination of Kim Geon-hee's thesis" and returned about 200 diplomas. (Photo by National University Alumni Emergency Committee)

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Alumni of Kookmin University have returned their diplomas to the school, demanding a re-examination of the thesis of Kim Gun-hee, the wife of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.

On the 1st, graduates belonging to the Kookmin University Alumni Emergency Committee for Urging the Re-examination of Kim Gun-hee's Thesis (hereafter the Emergency Committee) held a press conference in front of the main building of Kookmin University in Jeongneung-dong, Seoul, calling for a "Re-examination of Kim Gun-hee's Thesis" and returned about 200 diplomas to the school.

On that day, the graduates marched from the school gate to the university headquarters holding banners with phrases such as "Conduct an immediate review of Kim Gun-hee's thesis" and "I am too ashamed to live, return the diploma."

Kim Jun-hong, chairman of the Emergency Committee, said, "The fact that we are alumni of Kookmin University has become a source of despair and shame, which led to the return of diplomas," adding, "We return our diplomas with the determination to urge the university not to avoid verification of Kim Gun-hee's thesis at this place of truth-seeking, but to conduct a re-examination."

One alumnus who returned their diploma said, "I was expelled twice and received my diploma after 30 years, but I will give up this diploma."

The National University Alumni Emergency Committee urged the re-examination of Kim Geon-hee's thesis by holding a press conference in front of the main building of Kookmin University in Jeongneung-dong, Seoul, and returned about 200 diplomas. (Photo by National University Alumni Emergency Committee)

Another graduate attending the press conference criticized, "If the thesis review is not completed, it would be better for Kookmin University to be dismantled and closed to protect its honor," adding, "How can a university that pursues truth award a doctorate by fabricating a thesis?"

After allegations of plagiarism in Kim's thesis were raised, Kookmin University formed a preliminary investigation committee in July and, after review, announced that it would not conduct a full investigation because the verification period had expired. In response, the Ministry of Education sent an official letter last month requesting the university to inform them of the investigation plan regarding Kim's thesis misconduct allegations by the 8th of this month.

The Emergency Committee added, "We are discussing what actions to take after confirming the school's position on the 8th."

Kim received her doctoral degree in 2008 from Kookmin University's Graduate School of Techno Design with a thesis titled "A Study on the Development of Fortune-telling Content Using Avatars: Focusing on the Development and Market Application of 'Anita'." The university's Research Ethics Committee also reviewed three papers published in external academic journals during her enrollment but judged that additional investigation was impossible due to the expiration of the verification period.

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