South Korea First Lady’s Plagiarized Master’s Thesis Found by University

A recent investigation conducted by Sookmyung Women’s University has determined that the First Lady of South Korea, Kim Keon-hee, plagiarized her master’s thesis. This review was initiated in 2022 and the university shared their findings with Kim in December. She has until the end of January to challenge these results. If she decides to appeal, the university will carefully consider her request before making a final decision.

This is not the first time that Kim has faced allegations of misconduct. Prior to this incident, she was accused of involvement in stock market manipulation and election interference. In 2022, Kookmin University cleared her of plagiarism related to her doctoral dissertation. The recent findings from Sookmyung Women’s University have been revealed following the rejection of a re-vote by South Korea’s parliament on two bills, which aimed to investigate her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol’s, unsuccessful martial control bid and accusations against Kim. The president vetoed the bill that specifically targeted his wife.

Furthermore, amid ongoing legal turmoil, the Democratic Party of Korea has pledged to reintroduce the bills, accusing Yoon’s ruling People Power Party of protecting the “leader of the insurrection ring.” A new arrest warrant for Yoon has been approved by a Seoul court after his security team resisted previous attempts to detain him. Yoon has been confined to his residence since his impeachment on December 14, although an opposition lawmaker claims he is in a “third location.”