Ministry of Education Launches Audit of 'Kookmin University'... Investigating Deutsche Motors Shares and Degree Conferral Process

Reflecting Audit Requests, Special Audit of Kookmin University to be Conducted This Month
Audits Also to be Conducted at Kyonggi University, Sehan University, Jinju Education University, and Chungnam University
Sangmyung University, Related to Chairman's Abuse of Power Allegations, to Undergo Comprehensive Audit Next Year
Amendment of 'Academic Promotion Act Enforcement Decree' Including Basis for Research Ethics Improvement Demands

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[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education is launching an audit targeting Kookmin University. This is to examine the controversies raised during the National Assembly inspection, including false credentials of Kim Gun-hee, wife of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, the degree conferral process, and the holding of Deutsche Motors stocks.

On the 1st, the Ministry of Education held the "22nd Education Trust Recovery Promotion Team Meeting" to discuss matters such as revising regulations to organize research ethics issues raised during the National Assembly inspection period and plans to conduct audits.

The Ministry of Education will conduct a special audit on Kookmin University within this month. It plans to look into the purchase of Deutsche Motors stocks by the Kookmin University corporation, interference in decision-making processes, the degree conferral process at the Techno Design Graduate School, and faculty personnel management.

Although a comprehensive audit was requested for Kookmin University during the National Assembly inspection, the Ministry of Education decided to proceed with a special audit. Since Kookmin University is currently establishing an investigation plan related to Kim’s thesis, the university will focus on investigating whether Kim’s doctoral dissertation violated research ethics.

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "Since the allegations raised do not pertain to the overall school operation but only certain areas, we decided on a special audit. We plan to thoroughly review the degree conferral procedures, processes, and submission of false credentials, and from the Ministry’s perspective, we will mainly focus on compliance with procedures and regulations."

The results of the Ministry of Education’s audit are expected to be announced next year. The official added, "Considering the audit procedures, it will be difficult to announce the results this year."

Kookmin University faced intense criticism during the National Assembly inspection due to various allegations related to Kim. It was revealed that during the purchase of 240,000 shares of Deutsche Motors, the university submitted falsified meeting minutes despite the need for board approval.

In July, when plagiarism allegations regarding Kim’s doctoral thesis were raised, Kookmin University’s Research Ethics Committee initiated a preliminary investigation through a preliminary investigation committee but announced it would not conduct a full investigation citing the statute of limitations. In response, the Ministry of Education urged Kookmin University to reinvestigate, citing the abolition of the statute of limitations in the revised research ethics guidelines, and Kookmin University agreed to submit a plan for re-verification of the thesis by November 3.

Additionally, Jinju National University of Education and Chungnam National University will undergo special audits this month, and Sehan University will have a special audit in December. Chungnam National University will be audited for allegations of violations of the Anti-Graft Act and quarantine rules by faculty and staff, Jinju National University of Education for admissions-related power abuse allegations, and Sehan University for allegations of privatization and irregularities involving the president’s wife.

A comprehensive audit will be conducted in the first half of next year on Sangmyung University, where suspicions have been raised regarding the corporation, school accounting, personnel, academics, and private contracts. Gyeonggi University will conduct a fact-finding survey on allegations of faculty using poor-quality research papers for academic achievements and may switch to a special audit if deemed necessary.

The Ministry of Education stated, "We plan to actively investigate and audit universities with various allegations to uncover the truth, and if misconduct is confirmed, we will take strict measures commensurate with the violations."

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education is promoting institutional improvements related to establishing research ethics. Through revisions to the "Enforcement Decree of the Academic Promotion Act," research institutions such as universities that establish and implement their own research ethics regulations will be required to faithfully reflect the contents of the Ministry’s research ethics guidelines.

The Ministry of Education will announce the draft revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Academic Promotion Act for public comment from December 3 to December 13. The Minister of Education will be able to review the legality and appropriateness of each institution’s internal regulations and request revisions if necessary. The basis for research ethics fact-finding surveys, currently regulated by internal directives, will be specified in the Presidential Decree (Enforcement Decree), and the results of investigations will also be allowed to be disclosed.

Measures to allow direct investigation by the Ministry in cases where universities find it difficult to conduct fair investigations of research misconduct allegations and where there is a significant public interest will also be pursued. The Ministry plans to revise the "Guidelines for Securing Research Ethics" to include these measures and ensure their effectiveness.

An official from the Ministry of Education said, "Although the revised law at the end of last year clarified the responsibilities of all universities and researchers, there is a strong demand from the public, including the people, to strengthen research ethics, so we are revising the Enforcement Decree to make it clearer. Until now, we have conducted fact-finding surveys with the cooperation of schools, but once the basis for fact-finding surveys is established, universities that have not revised their regulations or have insufficient efforts in research ethics can also be publicly disclosed."

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