Yoo Eun-hye "Re-requesting Verification Plan for Kookmin University Thesis... Also Requesting Response from Gachon University" (Comprehensive)

Kookmin University Lacks Paper Verification Re-examination Plan in Reply on 8th, Re-requested
Immediate Investigation Decided on Appropriateness of PhD Review and Award Process of Mr. Kim at Kookmin University
Governor Lee Jae-myung's Master's Thesis Action Plan Response to be Requested from Gachon University
Apology for Death of Trainee in Yeosu "Investigation into Cause of Death, Legal Violations, and System Issues"

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye has decided to request Kookmin University to resubmit its plan for re-verification of the thesis. She also ordered an immediate internal investigation into the doctoral degree examination process that Kookmin University had independently announced. Furthermore, she stated that measures will be taken without exception regarding Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung’s master’s thesis at Gachon University.

At a press briefing held on the 12th at the Government Complex Sejong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "The official letter submitted by Kookmin University on the 8th included a plan for re-examination of the preliminary investigation results and a plan for an internal investigation into the appropriateness of Mr. Kim’s doctoral degree examination and awarding process."

Yoo Eun-hye: "Requesting Kookmin University to Resubmit Thesis Verification Action Plan"

The Ministry of Education’s request for a revised investigation plan came because Kookmin University submitted a plan to re-verify only compliance with regulations after reviewing the preliminary investigation report.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "The plan for re-examination of the preliminary investigation results received from Kookmin University on the 8th only included a plan to review the 'preliminary investigation process and regulations,' and did not contain any substantive re-examination measures regarding the existing preliminary investigation results. We will request them again to submit a substantive action plan for thesis verification by the 18th of this month."

The Ministry of Education has ordered Kookmin University to immediately conduct its own investigation regarding the doctoral degree examination process of Mr. Kim.

In addition, Kookmin University requested an authoritative interpretation from the Ministry of Education regarding the 'transitional provisions' included in the regulations of the Research Ethics Committee. In July, Kookmin University’s Research Ethics Committee announced that it would not conduct a full investigation into Mr. Kim’s doctoral thesis, citing the regulation that 'reports received after five years have passed will not be processed.'

In response, the Ministry of Education plans to send a reply maintaining its existing stance, which includes the deletion of the verification statute of limitations in 2011 and urging the abolition of the statute of limitations in university-specific regulations in 2013.

The Ministry of Education’s authoritative interpretation reply will include that "even under the transitional provisions of university-specific regulations, exceptions are recognized as provisos for past research misconduct, and if there is a strong need to satisfy the public’s right to know, verification can be conducted in accordance with these provisos."

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "Today, we plan to send an official letter to Kookmin University with the authoritative interpretation and an immediate reply. We abolished the verification statute of limitations to establish research ethics and have guided several universities to take action accordingly. Based on this intent, we will request Kookmin University to establish and implement a substantive action plan for thesis verification."

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo emphasized, "The abolition of the verification statute of limitations is the result of over ten years of institutional improvements by the Ministry of Education and academia to establish research ethics. There can be no cases where these institutional improvements are not implemented at the school level despite efforts to strengthen research ethics."

Requesting Response on Thesis-Related Action Plan from Gachon University as Well

Earlier, in July, Kookmin University’s Research Ethics Committee announced through the preliminary investigation committee that it would not conduct a full investigation into Mr. Kim’s doctoral thesis, citing that the verification statute of limitations had passed. The Ministry of Education revised the 'Guidelines for Securing Research Ethics' in 2011 to abolish the statute of limitations and recommended all universities to do the same, using this as grounds to instruct Kookmin University to establish a re-investigation plan.

The Ministry of Education also plans to send an official letter requesting the school’s position regarding Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung’s master’s thesis at Gachon University.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "We plan to send an official letter within today or tomorrow asking Gachon University to respond with the school’s position and action plan regarding the administrative procedures conducted from 2014 to 2016. There can be no exceptions in establishing research ethics," she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo stressed, "Despite various institutional improvements such as abolishing the verification statute of limitations after revising research ethics guidelines over the past ten years since 2011, the reason research ethics have not been firmly established is due to various interpretations at each school. I believe Kookmin University can conduct a sufficient internal investigation."

Apology Regarding Yeosu Intern Death Incident

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo acknowledged the Ministry of Education’s responsibility and apologized for the recent incident in Yeosu where vocational high school student Hong died during on-site training. Yoo said, "It is unacceptable that the intern received work instructions without proper training. We take this accident, which occurred due to failure to observe basic protocols, with utmost seriousness."

She added, "Apart from the Coast Guard investigation, the Ministry of Education will conduct a thorough investigation and, together with related ministries, will promote nationwide on-site training supervision and inspection. We will strictly investigate the reasons for the diving work and the death, including any legal violations and problems in system operation, and proceed with follow-up measures as quickly as possible."

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo expressed regret that such a tragedy occurred despite efforts to create systems to expand employment opportunities for specialized high school students since her appointment. She also pledged to conduct a comprehensive review to prevent recurrence.

Yoo explained, "While meeting with specialized high school students and teachers, I heard that safety is very important but there are difficulties in employment during on-site training. We established the on-site training system by gathering various opinions under the condition that safety is the top priority. The repetition of such accidents related to specialized high school students’ on-site training is due to failure to observe basic protocols."

She continued, "The fact-finding investigation team must clarify the cause and responsibility of the accident, and it is necessary to check whether the education office and Ministry of Education fulfilled their management responsibilities to ensure that the system created to guarantee safety actually functions in the field. We have created support policies for the safety and employment of specialized high school students, but fundamentally, we must review these issues, and I believe the Ministry of Education and education offices must take full responsibility where appropriate," she said.

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