International Association of Korean Language Education

​Article 1 (Purpose)

The purpose of this regulation is to establish the research ethics that members of the International Association of Korean Language Education must adhere to when conducting academic research and presenting research papers. It also outlines the ethical guidelines required for the publication of the Association’s journal.

Article 2 (Code of Ethics for Authors)

1.    Members of the Association shall not present research findings that they did not conduct as if they were their own. When including results from other researchers in their papers, they must properly cite the source and refrain from misrepresenting these findings as their own.

2.    Members shall not submit previously published research (including all or part of their dissertation) as if it were new work, whether domestic or foreign. When using excerpts from their own previously published studies, they must use citations.

3.    Members shall not falsify or manipulate data during the research process. Data generated during the research must be retained for a minimum of two years.

4.    A member can only be credited as an author if they have actively contributed to or conducted the research. Family members or minors who were not involved in the study must not be listed as co-authors. Additionally, in collaborative research, members must respect the copyrights and usage rights of their fellow researchers and appropriately acknowledge them as co-authors.

5. AI tools and other non-human technologies shall not be recognized as authors. If any portion of the research content is generated using such technological tools, the researcher bears full responsibility for the content’s accuracy and authenticity.

Article 3 (Editorial Ethics Code)

1.    Members of the editorial board shall determine the publication of submitted manuscripts fairly, evaluating them based on quality and adherence to submission guidelines, without influence from personal bias or relationships.

2.    Editorial Board members should assign the evaluation of submitted manuscripts to reviewers with relevant expertise and the capacity for impartial judgment. To ensure fairness, contributors and individuals affiliated with the same organization as the contributor must be excluded from the review process.

3.    Editors must maintain the confidentiality of both the content of the manuscripts under review and the review outcomes.

Article 4 (Code of Ethics for Reviewers)

1.    Reviewers must conduct evaluations in good faith within the time frame established by the judging regulations and promptly notify the editorial board of their results.

2.    Reviewers should assess papers based on objective criteria, independent of their own academic beliefs or personal relationships with the author.

3.    Reviewers are required to keep the content of the papers under review and the results of their evaluations confidential.

Article 5 (Composition of the Research Ethics Committee)

1.    A research ethics committee shall be established and operated to address ethical issues related to the research and publication of the Association.

2.    The committee shall consist of two ex-officio members, including one chairperson, and three appointed members.

3.    The ex-officio members shall include the editor-in-chief and one vice-president (in charge of research), with these positions filled by appointments made by the president from among the directors. The editor-in-chief shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.

Article 6 (Operation of the Research Ethics Committee)

1.    The Research Ethics Committee shall deliberate and make decisions on the following matters:

(1)  Issues related to the establishment and operation of systems concerning research ethics and integrity

(2)  Matters pertaining to the receipt and handling of misconduct reports

(3)  Issues regarding the initiation and conclusion of preliminary and main investigations

(4)  Matters concerning the protection of informants and measures to restore the reputation of the investigated individual

(5)  Issues related to the processing and follow-up of results from research integrity verifications

(6)  Other matters to be discussed by the Chairperson.

2.    The Research Ethics Committee shall conduct online and offline research ethics training at least once a year to strengthen ethical standards among Association members.

3.    Meetings shall be convened and presided over by the Chairperson.

4.    A meeting shall be valid if at least two-thirds of the members are present, and decisions shall be made by a majority of those present.

5.    Meetings shall be held in private.

Article 7 (Verification of Research Integrity)

1.    Informants may report research misconduct to the Research Ethics Committee in various ways, including orally, in writing, by phone, or by email. While reports should ideally be made under real names, anonymous reports may be considered if they include detailed accounts and evidence of specific misconduct.

2.    The verification process for research misconduct will proceed in three stages: preliminary investigation, main investigation, and judgment.

3.    The preliminary investigation shall begin within 15 days of notification and must be completed within 15 days of its commencement.

4.    If a main investigation is deemed necessary following the preliminary investigation, it shall involve testimonies from the informant, the subject of the investigation, witnesses, references, and evidence. This investigation must be concluded within 30 days of the preliminary findings being reported.

5.    The Committee may require the informant, the person under investigation, witnesses, and references to provide testimony; the person under investigation must comply. Additionally, they must respond cooperatively to the Committee’s requests for documentation.

6.    The Committee shall grant both the informant and the person under investigation equal rights and opportunities to express their opinions, raise objections, and make pleas.

7.    The Committee shall keep the identity of the informant confidential and take measures to protect them from any undue pressure or disadvantage.

8.    The Committee shall ensure that the honor and rights of the person under investigation are not violated until the verification of the alleged misconduct is completed, and it will work to restore the individual’s reputation if the allegations are found to be unfounded.

9.    All aspects of the investigation—including reports, inquiries, deliberations, and resolutions—shall be kept confidential, and all participants must safeguard any information obtained during the investigation.

10. The Committee shall notify the informant of the investigation results and provide them with an adequate opportunity to explain their position before a decision is made.

11. After confirmation by at least two-thirds of the attending members and approval by a majority, the results shall be communicated to both the informant and the person under investigation.

Article 8 (Sanctions and Follow-up Measures)

1. If a violation of research ethics is reported during the review of the paper concerned, the review will be discontinued, and if the violation of research ethics is found after the publication of the paper, the publication of the paper will be canceled, and the report will be posted on the website of the Association for one year. In addition, the author who violated research ethics will notify the relevant institution that profited from the paper.

2. If a violation of research ethics is found, the submission will not be allowed to be submitted to Korean Language Education for the next 5 years.

3. Records related to the preliminary investigation and the main investigation shall be kept by the Research Ethics Committee for 5 years after the conclusion of the investigation.

Addendum

1. These regulations shall be effective from November 20, 2007.

2. These regulations were amended on October 20, 2008, and shall take effect on December 1, 2008.

3. These regulations shall be amended on April 25, 2021, and shall take effect on June 1.

4. These regulations shall be amended on April 6, 2025, and shall take effect on June 1.