Lee Jin-sook, former president of Chungnam National University and a candidate for South Korea's education minister, has recently come under fire for allegedly plagiarizing a former student's thesis. She has denied the accusations, saying the media has misunderstood the academic context.
In addition, she is also being investigated for suspected violations of the law while sending her daughter abroad to study.
On July 20, the South Korean Presidential Office announced that President Lee Jae-myung decided to withdraw the nomination of Lee Jin-sook for the position of Education Minister following a series of allegations of plagiarism in her thesis and growing concerns about her ability to lead the country's public education system.
“After a comprehensive review and consultation with leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties, the President has decided to withdraw Lee Jin-sook’s nomination,” Woo Sang-ho, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, said at a press conference in Seoul.
Sending children to study abroad illegally, but saying "not knowing is breaking the law"
Ms. Lee was criticized after being nominated to the cabinet by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, for sending her daughter to study abroad in the US since middle school without her parents, violating the law on compulsory education.
She explained that sending her children to study abroad stemmed from her time as a researcher in the US in 2001.
“After that experience, my children expressed their desire to study in the US, so my husband and I agreed. My second daughter simply followed her older sister,” she said.
However, according to Korea Joongang Daily , Ms. Lee admitted that she did not know that letting her child leave Korea before completing middle school was illegal.
“I had absolutely no idea this was illegal at the time. It was a huge mistake on my part, albeit out of ignorance,” she said.
According to the Korean Elementary and Secondary Education Act, students must complete middle school before going abroad to study. If they do, they must be accompanied by a parent to ensure their studies are recognized. However, in 2007, when Ms. Lee’s youngest daughter went to study in the United States, both she and her husband were still working in Korea.
According to Chosun Biz , the fact that both of Ms. Lee’s daughters had studied abroad in the United States early has been criticized by organizations such as the Korean Teachers’ Union, who believe that someone who chose to study abroad early – which is considered a symbol of the private education trend – is not suitable to take on the position of head of the public education sector.
Questioned for being the main author in student research
Also at the hearing, opposition lawmakers continued to question Ms. Lee over suspicions that she had arbitrarily claimed to be the main author of scientific research papers conducted by students.
In the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field, students who are the main implementers are often listed first, said People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Kim Meen-geon.
“Ms. Lee did not directly conduct the research nor keep the lab books, but her name is still the first on the list. That is a manifestation of excessive ambition,” the congressman said.
In response, Ms. Lee asserted that she was the one who designed and won the research topics, so being the first to take the title was in accordance with regulations.
“In government-funded research projects, the professor is the main person responsible for guiding the students. The students only take on part of the work, which they then develop into their own thesis. I am the one who plans, structures the research, and designs the implementation methods. The students mainly support the experimental steps,” she emphasized.
“Therefore, I believe that it is reasonable and fair for me to be named as the main author,” she affirmed.
However, on July 16, at a hearing before the National Assembly in western Seoul, she bowed her head and apologized: "I sincerely apologize for the suspicions that caused public concern and failed to meet social expectations."
In the announcement about withdrawing her name from the nomination for the position of Minister of Education, the Office of the President of South Korea emphasized: "We call on the National Assembly to respect this decision and take the next steps soon."
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/ung-vien-bo-truong-giao-duc-bi-rut-de-cu-vi-be-boi-cho-con-di-du-hoc-trai-luat-2424137.html
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