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| Huh Tae-yeol |
"I offer a deep apology to the people. At that time, I did not have sufficient understanding of the way to write a thesis or research ethics and failed to sincerely comply with the research ethics standards," Huh said.
The swift redress from the former three-term lawmaker and close ally of Park, came just hours after the DongA Ilbo daily reported that his 1999 doctoral paper on local government administration was heavily copied from another person's work published three years earlier.
He acknowledged that he plagiarized the thesis with which he obtained a doctoral degree from KonKuk University.
He also stated that he didn't have sufficient time to fully prepare for the thesis at that time.
"I feel really embarrassed for not abiding by the research ethics standards," he said.
Still, Huh made it clear that he will not step down.
"If the people show understanding toward my shortfalls, I will take this job as my last public service and selflessly devote myself to the country," he said.
The 67-year old served in the presidential office during the Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan administrations.
Unlike Cabinet members, his appointment to Cheong Wa Dae is not subject to confirmation hearings.
