South Korea's first lady may have her PhD revoked for plagiarism

According to the newspaperThe Korea HeraldThe announcement came after Sookmyung Women's University made a preliminary conclusion that Kim Keon Hee plagiarized her master's thesis submitted to the university's graduate school, the university said on January 15.

An official from Kookmin University (also known as Korea National University) said the school will consider whether Ms. Kim’s doctorate is still valid. The revocation of her master’s degree could directly affect the validity of her doctorate, as Korea National University requires a valid master’s degree or equivalent to be considered for doctoral admission.

To begin the review process, the dean of the Graduate School of Engineering and Technology at Korea National University (where Ms. Kim received her doctorate) needs to convene a committee and present the matter. The graduate committee, which consists of five or more members appointed by the president, will discuss and make a decision. The decision requires the participation and consent of a majority of the 22 members of the committee.

However, the process depends on whether Sookmyung Women's University officially revokes Ms. Kim's master's degree. Some say that even if there is evidence of plagiarism, the school may be hesitant to revoke the degree.

Sookmyung Women's University's research integrity and ethics committee sent its findings to Kim in late December, giving her until the end of this month to appeal the decision.

If Ms. Kim disagrees with the conclusion, the committee is expected to consider her appeal before making a final decision.

Ms. Kim has been facing plagiarism charges related to her master's thesis, which she submitted in 1999 at Sookmyung Women's University's graduate school. The university began investigating her case in mid-December 2022.