SEOUL: Kookmin University announced it will consider revoking first lady Kim Keon Hee’s doctoral degree if Sookmyung Women’s University officially revokes her master’s degree over plagiarism findings.
The announcement comes after Sookmyung Women's University preliminarily concluded that Kim plagiarised her master's thesis submitted to the university's Graduate School of Education.
A university official said that Kookmin University will deliberate over whether or not her doctoral degree is still valid.
The revocation of Kim’s master’s degree could directly impact whether her doctoral degree is still valid, as Kookmin University requires a valid master’s degree or equivalent qualifications for doctoral admissions.
For this process to begin, the dean of Kookmin University's Graduate School of Techno Design -- where Kim earned her doctorate -- must convene a committee and submit the matter for review.
The graduate school committee, which includes more than five members appointed by the university president, will then deliberate the issue.
A decision requires the attendance and approval of the majority of its 22 members.
However, this process hinges on whether Sookmyung Women’s University formally revokes Kim’s master’s degree.
Some watchers suggest that even with the confirmed plagiarism finding, the university could hesitate on revoking the degree.
The Sookmyung Women's University's research ethics committee sent the findings to Kim in late December, giving her until the end of this month to appeal the decision.
If the first lady disputes the conclusion, the committee plans to review her appeal before finalising its conclusion.
Kim has faced allegations of plagiarising her 1999 master's thesis, submitted to the university's Graduate School of Education as part of the requirements to be awarded the degree.
Sookmyung launched the investigation into Kim's case in mid-December 2022. - The Korea Herald/ANN
