Sookmyung Women’s University’s Research Integrity Committee (RIC) has preliminarily concluded that the master’s thesis of First Lady Kim Keon Hee constitutes plagiarism. The university has reportedly notified Kim of this conclusion.
On January 7, Sookmyung Women’s University stated that the RIC had communicated the findings of its investigation to Kim late last month, allowing her until the end of January to file any objections.
Background of Plagiarism Allegations
Kim’s 1999 master’s thesis, titled “A Study on the Characteristics of Paul Klee’s Paintings,” was flagged for plagiarism in 2022 after being reported by Sookmyung’s Democratic Alumni Association. Following the report, the university initiated a preliminary investigation, which progressed to a full investigation in December 2022.
Although RIC guidelines require full investigations to be completed within 90 days, the complex and sensitive nature of this case delayed the process, which has now taken nearly two years.
Response from the Democratic Alumni Association
The Democratic Alumni Association, which initially reported the plagiarism, has not yet received the investigation results.
On January 3, the association stated that it had received an email from the RIC confirming that “the findings have been communicated to the respondent (Kim Keon Hee), and after the objection process is completed, the results will also be shared with the reporting party.”
In response, the association issued a statement urging the university to ensure transparency and fairness. “The reporting party should be given the same opportunity as the respondent to be informed of the findings and to file objections,” the statement read.
Next Steps and Final Decision
The university clarified that if Kim submits an objection, the RIC will review it before issuing a final decision. Once finalized, the results will be shared with the reporting party.
This case has attracted widespread attention from both academic and political circles, and the final outcome is highly anticipated.
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