TV shows edit out singer Hong Jin-young after plagiarism allegation

Trot singer Hong Jin-young. IMH Entertainment

By Lee Gyu-lee

Trot singer Hong Jin-young has been edited out of recent episodes of TV reality shows in which she has been starring, after facing an allegation that she plagiarized her master's dissertation paper.

MBC variety show “Buddy into the Wild” and SBS show “My Ugly Duckling” have taken out all scenes showing the singer from its latest episodes ― on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

SBS told local newspapers, Monday, “We do not plan to feature Hong for a few episodes, due to the recent issue.” However, it denied she was permanently stepping out of the show.

The move came after she was accused of plagiarism of a dissertation paper that she submitted for the master's degree she completed at Chosun University 11 years ago.

Early this month, a local newspaper Kukmin Ilbo reported that Hong's paper “Study on the cultural content industry through Hallyu” scored a 74 percent plagiarism rate on plagiarism checking service Copykiller.

The singer and her agency IMH Entertainment denied the accusation, saying the high rate was a result of source citations and excerpts from supporting research.

“Back in 2009, papers needed many citations and quotations to be passed,” the agency said. “The professor who assessed the paper also confirmed that it cannot be considered plagiarized.”

However, the controversy continues to spiral, with growing public criticism.

Hong spoke out on the issue herself, saying she would “give up” her degrees ― master and Ph.D. ― from the university. She received a master's degree in 2009 and a doctoral degree in 2012.

“No matter how I explain, it would only sound like an excuse, which is very frustrating and devastating,” she said.

Chosun University is investigating the claims of plagiarism regarding Hong's dissertation. If the allegation are found to be true, the university will revoke her degrees.