As the confirmation hearing for Minister of Education nominee Lee Jin-sook approaches in ten days, allegations of repeated publication of the nominee's thesis and misappropriation of research results from students have emerged as the main issues. The opposition People Power Party has announced a rigorous verification, calling her a 'destroyer of research ethics' and is pressuring her to resign.
The confirmation hearing for Minister of Education nominee Lee Jin-sook is scheduled to be held on the 16th. This hearing is expected to focus on the nominee's research ethics violations and expertise in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education.
According to political and educational circles, this nominee is facing allegations of repeated publication and unauthorized citation of research results from students regarding a thesis presented during her time as a professor in the Department of Architectural Engineering at Chungnam National University.
In particular, concerns have been raised that two papers published in different journals in 2018 are significantly similar in title, experimental content, and conclusions.
According to Lee Min-jeon, a People Power Party member of the National Assembly Education Committee, a similarity test by the Korea Citation Index (KCI) revealed that 35% of the total sentences in the two theses are similar. These theses do not indicate that they cited or referenced each other, leading to interpretations that they may constitute 'unfair repeated publication' under the Ministry of Education's research ethics guidelines. According to the revised Ministry of Education research ethics guidelines from 2015, reissuing works that are substantially similar to one's previous research results without proper citation and obtaining research funding as merit is defined as 'unfair repeated publication.'
Allegations of 'misappropriation of student theses' have also been raised. The nominee's repeatedly published thesis is said to be similar to the doctoral thesis of her graduate student A, which was published several months later. Some in the political sphere have raised doubts that the nominee preemptively claimed the research results of A, who is listed as her student, as her work.
In addition, reports have emerged suggesting that she has also plagiarized multiple theses from students. The opposition has announced a thorough investigation, saying, 'If a person who is to become the head of the Ministry of Education has committed actions that violate research ethics, it is a serious issue.'
On the 6th, the People Power Party issued a statement (Spokesperson Lee Jun-woo) stating, 'The allegations of research ethics violations against this nominee are of a criminal level. The title of 'destroyer of research ethics' seems more fitting.' The spokesperson noted, 'The 2018 thesis is said to be at a 'carbon copy level' of the student's doctoral thesis. There are suspicions of possible embezzlement of national research funds,' urging, 'This nominee must resign immediately.'
Furthermore, it has been pointed out that the nominee is not responding faithfully to the National Assembly's request for the submission of confirmation hearing materials, stating, 'It is an act that mocks the National Assembly's confirmation hearing system and ignores the public.'
Additionally, questions about the lack of expertise in educational fields are also being raised as a key issue for the hearing. While this nominee has extensive experience in higher education as a professor at Chungnam National University, president of the university, and president of the Council of National and Public Universities, it is pointed out that her understanding of early childhood and elementary and secondary education is relatively lacking.
Members of the opposition in the National Assembly's Education Committee, as well as progressive educational organizations, point out that 'there is no understanding of early childhood education and elementary and secondary education at all.'
Questions regarding President Lee Jae-myung's key educational pledge of 'creating 10 Seoul National Universities' are also expected to be concentrated on. Since this nominee is known to have led the design of this pledge during the presidential election, questions about its feasibility and specific roadmap are likely to follow.
The nominee's preparation team for the confirmation hearing stated, 'We plan to thoroughly clarify the allegations related to the thesis during the confirmation hearing process.'