SNU may investigate Ahn's alleged plagiarism

Ahn Cheol-soo

By Yi Whan-woo

Seoul National University (SNU) will convene an ethics committee meeting Wednesday to decide whether to investigate allegations that independent presidential hopeful Ahn Cheol-soo committed plagiarism to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees at the school.

The university said Sunday it will review four of Ahn’s theses in which he allegedly copied or paraphrased someone else’s work before making a decision.

The move came after Rep. Min Byoung-ju of the ruling Saenuri Party called on the SNU to investigate the plagiarism allegations during a National Assembly audit and inspection of government agencies last week.

The lawmaker cited an exclusive media report that raised suspicions of plagiarism surrounding the unaffiliated presidential candidate.

The report by Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. (MBC) said that Ahn, 50, committed plagiarism on two of his master’s dissertations in 1988 and two of his doctoral theses in 1991 to become a medical doctor. He has flatly denied the allegations.

Ahn is no longer affiliated with SNU after he tendered his resignation as dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology in September when he declared his bid for the presidency.

SNU, however, said it will convene the meeting Wednesday under its policy that requires action on any alleged violation of academic research ethics by its alumni.

“We’ll reveal the truth on Ahn’s case by the end of November at the latest,” said Lee Joon-sik, an executive vice president of the school.

A number of school officials think that Ahn will be proven innocent, according to sources close to SNU.

Ahn has drawn support from the younger generation and liberals as he is known for having an “uncorrupt and clean” image that stems from his past professions, including doctor and CEO of an anti-virus software firm that made the programs available for free.

He is one of the strongest candidates for the Dec. 19 presidential election that also includes Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party and Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic United Party.