A makeshift memorial and protest at Chosun University. Screen capture from SBS video report.
The Korea Times reports on a lecturer at Gwangju's Chosun University (조선대학교) who killed himself in his apartment on the 25th and left behind a lengthy suicide note on corruption and academic dishonesty at Chosun and other universities:
Police will investigate allegations raised in a suicide note by an hourly lecturer who accused some universities of having requested kickbacks in exchange for professor jobs.
Gwangju Seobu Police Station said Thursday that its officers are trying to verify the contents of the five-page suicide note left by a 45-year-old hourly university lecturer at Chosun University, identified only by his surname Seo, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The note is reportedly addressed to President Lee Myung-bak.
Seo also alleged that he was forced to write a number of academic papers on behalf of his supervising professor, insisting all the papers were published in the professor’s name. Investigators are currently questioning his family members and colleagues at the university to find out what drove him to end his life.
. . .
According to the police, Seo said in his note that he was offered the chance to buy a faculty position at a private university in South Jeolla Province for 60 million won two years ago. In March this year, he was also asked to donate 100 million for professorship by a private university in Gyeonggi Province.
Seo alleged that Chosun University was trying to kick him out, saying he had no choice but to kill himself under the mounting stress. ``The country should do something for part-time lecturers. We also must do something to change the increasingly corrupt Korean society. I want an investigation into what I went through,’’ he was quoted as saying by the police.
The dead lecturer also claimed that he wrote a total of 54 thesis and other academic papers for his supervising professor and they were all published in the professor’s name, demanding investigation into the matter.
Suicide note, again from SBS.
The 광주일보 reports on it as well, and Naver and Daum searches for the 자살시간강사 reveal other Korean-language news articles and blog entries.
25 comments:
The Times article says it's a "widely-known secret," and there are plenty of stories of academic fraud among professors. The last lengthy look I took was in 2007:
http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2007/12/2007-in-case-you-missed-it.html
Some of the links are dead, unfortunately, but you'll see that among others the Minister of Education and the president of Korea University admitted to plagiarism, as did a Yonsei University professor.
virtually the whole university system is a "wink wink" program. From students being passed in diploma mills, professional test takers who are paid to sit in for other students, kick-back, sexual harrassment of professors to adjunct, professors to students and student to student, its a wonder anyone is legitmately qualified to perform in their disciplined profession. Oh..that's right, that's what the professional exams are for, to weed out those who goofed in school...or cant afford to pay a professional test taker. And the dirty secret of hiring/outsourcing key positions to foreign engineers (port operators, airline pilots, etc) who can react quickly in a crisis/to avoid a crisis w/o worrying about offending the idiot boss.
I've recently come to the conclusion that democrazy is the root of most social evils in Korea. (relax, hear me out)
Socially, Korea is a confuscian society, eh? The system is rigid, based on status, social obligations, blah blah blah.. we all know the lecture.
When a democrazy veneer is placed over the defacto reality of confuscianism, then the possibility for corruption takes root and becomes bountiful.
Remove the idea of democrazy, allow the old confuscian standards to return, and then there would be a line between giving a teacher an apple, a soda, or an envelope with a small token 30.000 won as opposed to an envelope with 3,000.000 won. There would be clear distictions between what is acceptable as a token tribute gift and an out right bribe or kickback.
with the veneer of democrazy, the defacto reality of confuscian social order is kept in the semi-shadows and unregulated.
anyhoo, just my e ship won - pardon for the misspellings, I'm sure there are a few.
I hope he left some proof of his writing those 54 papers, like rough notes, or something that the supervising professor won't be able to just deny.
"Virtually the whole university system is a "wink wink" program ... its a wonder anyone is legitmately qualified to perform in their disciplined profession"
Well said. It IS a wonder. It's a corrupt, terrible, farce.
Here's some interesting information found via a person who retweeted my post on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/stipkr
There's been a sit-in going on in front of the National Assembly since September 9, 2007, for the benefit of hourly professors. The website linked to on the Twitter page doesn't work, but googling around turns up a few other pages:
"Originally the lecturers are teacher in the Korean Constitution, but Dictator Park Junghee deprived the status of teacher from them in 1977 by the policy to make the students & people fool. "
http://www.unionbook.org/pg/blog/kimyoungkon/read/22177/university-lecturers-of-korea-sitin-960-days-now-want-to-revise-higher-education-act-to-get-back-the-status-of-teacher
I suspect it makes better sense in Korean. More pages in Korean via a Naver search:
http://search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=%B4%EB%C7%D0%B0%AD%BB%E7%B1%B3%BF%F8%C1%F6%C0%A7%C8%B8%BA%B9&sm=top_hty&fbm=1&x=33&y=11
The twitter page also gives out the Chosun University professor's real name, if anyone is interested, and adds that the sit-in is in the 995th day.
A family friend is a biology professor in Montreal. They had this Korean "star" student accepted into their graduate program. Oh dear he totally aced all his undergrad courses at his university in Korea. Glowing recs from his profs etc. There was a small problem, he was missing a couple under grad courses one would have taken in a Canadian university. He was tentatively accepted into the program and just had to complete his undergrad catch up courses. It was mostly a formality as this stuff should be child's play for anyone at the graduate level, let alone this young Korean genius.
He failed both courses miserably. They realized his CV was a work of fiction.
Haven't western universities basically learned to ignore final year marks coming out of Korean high schools because these schools keep sending report cards with 100% across the board?
Stephannie you had a great example of a Korean student who was set to graduate with an engineering degree that couldn't seem to do the basics of her course. She was just pushed through the system because she was cute and knew how to play the professor game.
For anyone joining us late, there was a lengthy discussion on the different standards at Korean and western universities on this December post:
http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2009/12/cutting-out-class-cutting.html
imho In that December post, only Stevie Bee made sense (and a fair judgement i suppose). Most of the posts are like whats in here, full of anecdotes. Its cheap and worthless to even discuss.
That's pretty harsh. On the contrary I don't consider anecdotal evidence "cheap" or "worthless" at all, considering there's nothing else to go on, and since so many university teachers have painted a similar picture.
The Hankyoreh has written about it in English:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/422981.html
Arvinsign,
And what other way is there to discuss the issue? If personal experience is invalid, I would like to hear a suggestion of a valid method, in your opinion of course.
@ Douglas,
Personal experience is not invalid. But its not the only thing, and its subject to lots of biases, mostly personal. Other peoples experiences (and observations) maybe different, yet they dont post anything here in the internet. So in my opinion, its better to post something that can be substantiated and measured especially in the light of the poster's assumptions.
And reading "anecdotes" from lots of anonymous people who dont even represent the majority of all those concerned is something i dont consider an overwhelming evidence. Its tantamount to listening to a witness in a court trial (whom i dont know the identity and credibility but carries with him/her a bagful of stories for me to evaluate).
As for this issue, i dont know if they used the word "ghostwriting" correctly. Although my field of study is different, but having so people on the authors list (with some names included for reasons we first authors dont know) in any scientific publication is common. It happens everywhere.
In a humorous way, its depicted as like this http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=562
The case for plagiarism maybe true, this is prevalent in many countries whose native language is not English. But that doesnt exempt other countries as well.
I dont know anything about the issues on promotion. What i know is that mostly in here, they give more weight on seniority rather than on skills. But thats my experience, i maybe wrong.theri
A family friend is a biology professor in Montreal. They had this Korean "star" student accepted into their graduate program. [...] He failed both courses miserably. They realized his CV was a work of fiction.
I taught computer science at a university in Waterloo Canada, and we had a Korean woman get accepted into our Ph.D program (she already had her BA and MA in computer science)... she flunked out of her FIRST semester quite badly: she didn't know the first thing about programming in C++ or pretty much any programming language required of the grad courses we offered.
No one could understand how someone in computer science at THAT LEVEL of education could be so completely ignorant of the principles of computer science. Now that I've spent so many years teaching here in Korean universities, I can fully understand how that can be.
What i know is that mostly in here, they give more weight on seniority rather than on skills. But thats my experience, i maybe wrong
Not seniority, age. I could have 10 years of seniority where I work, but if some new professor comes in next semester and he is older than me, he will be given preference over me for tenure, promotion, etc.
But you're right, it has nothing to do with ability.
Well, that and a cake box. I just refuse to give them that cake box.
Wow that's disturbing, Darth. My friend only did his B.Math in Computer Science at Waterloo and even at that level they had to do things like write their own operating system and such. It was pretty hardcore.
Stephannie related a story on the SeoulPodcast about an engineer grad she taught that didn't seem to know anything about engineering. The student was just pushed through the system because she was a cutie patootie.
@ Darth
"she flunked out of her FIRST semester quite badly: she didn't know the first thing about programming in C++ or pretty much any programming language required of the grad courses we offered"
Yeah thats disturbing, however how in the world it is possible that she got accepted as a PhD student in that University in the first place, assuming that she dont know anything in any programming language that your grad program requires ? This is the same with Puffin Watch's tale of the Korean "genius" in Montreal.
It makes me think that that University in Waterloo dont do any rigid screening at all and will accept anyone as long as they can pay. I dont think shes on scholarship anyway.
Second, not all Korean Universities are high quality universities. There are big ones (quality), and there are crappy ones (i'll honestly say this is the majority). I'll be very surprised if the students mentioned in the above stories came from the big ones here. It goes the same with Universities in other countries as well. You have the Ivy leagues, then you have the crappy leagues. I dont think its accurate to brand all Universities in the West as "one and all the same" in terms of standards and quality. And this goes the same for their graduates. I dont think the prestige and education that can be earned in a top American University is the same as that of a top University in Canada, UK, Italy or France for example. I hate to generalize, but mostly graduates of prestigious Universities in USA or any countries for example behaves, acts, performs, and thinks differently as compared to graduates of other universities. This is just a rough estimate and very subjective of course.
Also, Graduate Programs (science/engineering) in most Universities worldwide usually have a very tight screening procedure when picking out prospective graduate students from pools of applicants ( technical interviews, copies of publications, and sometimes exams, GRE for example in case of USA) since these programs are usually funded or tied up with a scholarship. I dont know about Liberal Arts, Education and other majors, im quite sure most of these programs requires students to pay a matriculation fee (graduate school level) hence with less rigid requirements. In case of Germany, if anyone applies for a PhD in any Sciences under the Max Planck Labs, all throughout your PhD program you are not even required to attend any class at all except for those in house seminars.
"It makes me think that that University in Waterloo dont do any rigid screening at all and will accept anyone as long as they can pay."
It appears that University of Waterloo, like many universities requires your transcripts, references, TOFEL scores, for students from Korea they need to be in the top 20% of their graduating class, statement of interest, resume, 36 hours of post secondary education at a school where English was the language of instruction, A average of better, etc. based on what their website says. All things, pretty easy to forge. Not much you couldn't forge though. If they call your references they could lie. If you are applying from abroad and you need to do some task you could pay someone to do it for you etc.
It makes me think that that University in Waterloo dont do any rigid screening at all and will accept anyone as long as they can pay. I dont think shes on scholarship anyway.
Ummm. Waterloo is one of Canada's top universities, especially its computer science/engineering programs. It's the MIT of Canada. Stephen Hawking has taken a position as a professor there. I seriously doubt Waterloo makes it a habit of taking grad students on a wink and a nod.
As fattycat notes, people are evaluated based on their paper records. Like all science, there's a certain amount of trust in the paper data, with the understanding you can't really hide for too long and you'll be smoked out. Clearly she was. I assume she was scrubbed right out of the program, something Korean universities seem reticent to do.
And reading "anecdotes" from lots of anonymous people who dont even represent the majority of all those concerned is something i dont consider an overwhelming evidence.
Forgive me if I'm wrong but I didn't notice me or Darth trying to prove the truth of any claim to you.
Anyway, to your point, it depends what the claim is. If I claim there are no egg laying bats, you merely have to show me one egg laying bat. If my claim is the majority of bats don't lay eggs, showing me one egg laying bat proves nothing.
Let me suggest if a university in Seoul sends a "paper genius" to the university of waterloo and it's discovered there was fraud that could only happen with the cooperation or motivated ignorance of the Seoul university administration, that single anecdote may well cause Waterloo to institute a new policy with the Seoul university in question. Just as science will trust your data but one single example of fraud will get you cut off forever.
By comparison, it seems to only take one bad egg among E2s to cause the Korean government to rush into place new rules for all.
@ PW
What i thought is that Darth referred to a University in Waterloo, and not specifically University of Waterloo. Maybe i got it wrong. But still i'm wondering how the students mentioned above were able to get acceptance as a PhD student in that University in Canada. I understand the bells and whistles requirements such as diploma, recommendations etc, and its a common knowledge almost universally that it bears almost no weight unless your recommendation letter came from a Nobel laureate. And since this is PhD/Doctoral level degree, i find it lame that the University didn't do anything to check her profile. How about her advisor? No interviews? No technical questions at least? I'm saying this in the light of the description "at THAT LEVEL of education could be so completely ignorant of the principles of computer science."
This is a very strong language, but obviously colored, exaggerated and taken out of context. As pointed out this is not a case of forgery (that's a different story), but more of a generalized statement about the quality of secondary education in Korea, as compared to Universities in the West. I know and i agree that there's a big problem in most Universities here in Korea, however i also believed that we should be fair and objective in our statements. Maybe i'm over expecting or maybe I'm looking at the wrong blog, but i do expect to read intelligent comments from credible people that is worth discussing.
That's why i'm referring to many stories like this as anecdotal ones. Words are cheap, anyone can post a story (especially anonymous ones), bend it and make it more exciting much to the amusement of the readers. A little data or some references, stats etc will not hurt.
"Anyway, to your point, it depends what the claim is"
There are so many claims actually, not only yours and Darth. You can scroll up and review them one by one, if you think they are fair enough, and objective and then maybe im wrong. But try it anyway
It was the University of Waterloo, btw. I didn't mention it by name because most people outside of Canada or outside the industry just don't know it.
As pointed out this is not a case of forgery (that's a different story), but more of a generalized statement about the quality of secondary education in Korea, as compared to Universities in the West.
Yes, it was a generalized statement of the quality of post-secondary education and graduate level education in Korea, but it was also a case of obvious forgery. Most likely even complicity on the behalf of the Korean advisors/references as well.
There's only so much background checks can do. If the grades are inflated, how do you know? If the thesis or portfolio was plagiarized how would you know, especially if it was written in a language none on the admissions committee speaks? You go by the recommendation letters, and if those advisors are complicit in the lies being put forth in the application, how would you find anything out?
As stated, the U of Waterloo is the MIT of Canada... the undergrad math and computer science classes are in many ways more rigorous than most grad courses elsewhere. That being said, UW does its due diligence when it comes to accepting international students for their programs, but there's only so much one can do.
As fattycat notes, people are evaluated based on their paper records. Like all science, there's a certain amount of trust in the paper data, with the understanding you can't really hide for too long and you'll be smoked out. Clearly she was. I assume she was scrubbed right out of the program, something Korean universities seem reticent to do.
Exactly. In her case, she was drubbed right out of the program, no second chances, visa revoked. There was another student (Chinese, not Korean) drubbed out and visa revoked for plagiarism.
Waterloo (and most Canadian universities) are not afraid or reticent to boot you out of the uni if they deem it necessary (I was almost booted in my second semester... but I put my ass in gear and graduated with Honours three times).
I have yet to see a Korean university do the same. I continually see the university-level equivalent of social promotion. As Stephannie says, there's a lot of winking and knowing nods going on in the dean's office.
That's why i'm referring to many stories like this as anecdotal ones. Words are cheap, anyone can post a story (especially anonymous ones), bend it and make it more exciting much to the amusement of the readers. A little data or some references, stats etc will not hurt.
Again, I don't think anyone was really talking to you. You've inserted yourself into a casual, off-the-cuff conversation about exemplars of problems we see in the Korean education system.
@ PW
"Again, I don't think anyone was really talking to you."
I know. My statements does not insinuate anything like that. As a regular visitor here, Im just criticizing the way assumptions are being made in blogs or any forums like this. When youre having a casual conversation or posting comments on any blogs, it follows that it will be seen by millions of readers and will stay for eons of years for generations to see, hence i dont think its something that im not allowed to insert myself into since this is a public domain. Theres nothing wrong with that so it doesnt have to be pointed out.
As a regular visitor here, Im just criticizing the way assumptions are being made in blogs or any forums like this. When youre having a casual conversation or posting comments on any blogs, it follows that it will be seen by millions of readers and will stay for eons of years for generations to see
It's just super the poor readers of this blog have you here to clear it up for them.
I want Kushibo back.
jeebus for once i'm posting a comment and it's just to say that i really don't like arvinsign. please hold yourself from commenting anywhere anymore, arvinsign. just don't.
miss,
Good luck to your wish. Just contribute to the topic.
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