Chosun University Makes Final Judgment Of Plagiarism In Hong Jin Young's Master's Thesis

Chosun University has made a final judgment of plagiarism regarding Hong Jin Young’s master’s thesis.

On December 23, Maeil Business Newspaper reported that a representative from the Chosun University Graduate School Committee said, “We have made a final judgment of plagiarism regarding Hong Jin Young’s thesis and therefore we will begin taking administrative action for degree cancelation.”

They stated that they will be more thorough in the operation of their research ethics management system and strengthen the duty of guidance and supervision, which has been assigned to thesis supervisor professors since 2011 in order to prevent violations of research ethics such as plagiarism in theses.

The outlet quotes a source from Chosun University who stated that if the chancellor gives his final approval of the committee’s judgment, then both her master’s and doctoral degrees will be revoked.

In November, it was reported that Hong Jin Young’s 2009 master’s thesis from Chosun University was under suspicion of plagiarism after it received a score of 74 percent on the plagiarism review site Copy Killer. Hong Jin Young’s agency denied the claims of plagiarism.

When accusations continued to spread, Hong Jin Young made a statement in which she said, “I organized my time, conferred with the professor, and did my absolute best to create the thesis.” However, she announced that she had decided to give up her master’s and doctoral degrees.

On December 15, a Research Integrity Committee under the Chosun University Ethics Committee made the tentative judgment of plagiarism regarding Hong Jin Young’s master’s thesis. This was sent to the Graduate School Committee, which had given Hong Jin Young until December 18 to submit an explanation, with the committee to make a final decision on December 23.

Hong Jin Young posted an apology letter on December 18 in which she said she would admit to everything and reflect. She wrote, “I have received greater love that I deserve. I will now pay back that love while quietly spending time reflecting on myself and doing meaningful and good things.”

Following the controversy, Hong Jin Young has no longer appeared on variety shows such as SBS’s “My Little Old Boy.”

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