Publication Ethics Committee
The Publication Ethics Committee (“committee”) shall deliberate and resolve the following matters concerning the establishment of research ethics in the LSK:
- Matters concerning the prevention of research misconduct
- Matters concerning the investigation of research misconduct
- Matters concerning the protection and confidentiality of informants
- Matters concerning the handling of research misconduct investigation results and follow-up measures
- Other matters requested by the chairperson in relation to the establishment of research ethics
The committee is composed of four ex officio members and five recommended members. The ex officio members are the Senior Vice President, Editor-in-Chief, General Affairs Director, and Senior Research Director, while the recommended members are recommended by the LSK President. The chairperson is the Senior Vice President of the LSK, and the term of office of the chairperson and members is two years. One secretary may be appointed among the members to handle the committee’s affairs. The chairperson may appoint expert members based on the committee’s opinions.
Regular meetings of the committee shall be held on the first Wednesday of March, June, September, and December, when the KJL is published. In addition, irregular meetings shall be convened and presided over by the chairperson if necessary. Unless otherwise specified, a committee meeting shall be deemed with the attendance of a majority of the enrolled members, and resolutions shall be made with the consent of a majority of the members present. If necessary, non-members may attend committee meetings to hear members’ opinions. In principle, committee meetings shall be confidential.
The committee shall investigate whether research misconduct exists when there is a specific report or considerable suspicion. The chairperson may conduct a preliminary investigation in consultation with the LSK President. The committee may organize an investigation committee consisting of three members appointed by the chairperson in consultation with the LSK President for a fair and rigorous investigation. The investigation committee shall be composed of members or associate members of the LSK and, if necessary, one external person may be included.
In the course of an investigation, the investigation committee may request the informant, the person under investigation, the witnesses, and the referee to attend the committee meeting and submit relevant data. If the person under investigation refuses to attend the committee meeting or submit data without justifiable reasons, it can be presumed that he/she acknowledges the charges. The investigation committee may take corresponding measures to prevent the loss, damage, concealment, or falsification of research records or evidence.
In circumstances in which it is difficult to expect fairness from a committee member, the person under investigation or the informant may request recusal by stating the reason. If the request for recusal is judged to be justifiable, the challenged member and investigator will be excluded from the investigation. Persons who have a direct interest in the investigation may not participate in the deliberation, resolution, or investigation of a case. Members and investigators who judge that Paragraph 1 or 2 pertains to them may apply for exclusion. The chairperson may suspend the qualifications of committee members and investigation members who have an interest in the matter under investigation.
The committee shall give the examinee an opportunity to present his/her opinion and/or explain the matters of the investigation.
The committee shall make a decision confirming that the conduct of the investigated person in relation to the matter under investigation is research misconduct with the consent of at least two-thirds of the members of the committee. If there is a determination to confirm research misconduct, one or more of the following sanctions may be imposed: cancellation of publication of papers with research misconduct, notice of cancellation of publication of papers with research misconduct, deprivation or suspension of membership, suspension of submission qualification, notification to relevant authorities, and other appropriate measures. The notice in the second point of the preceding Paragraph 2 shall include the name of the author(s), the name of the paper, the volume and number of the journal in which the paper was published, the date of cancellation, and the reason for the cancellation.
The chairperson shall outline the committee's decision on the investigation result in writing and notify the relevant persons; i.e., the person under investigation, the informant, and the KJL Editorial Board.
Where the person under investigation or the informant disagrees with the committee’s decision, he/she may request a re-deliberation from the committee in writing stating the reasons within 30 days from the date of receiving the notice.
The committee shall protect the informant and endeavor not to unduly infringe upon the honor of the person under investigation. All matters related to reporting, investigation, deliberation, resolution, and suggestion shall be kept confidential; however, if there is a significant need for disclosure, it may be conducted through the committee’s resolution. Members and persons who (in)directly participate in the investigation shall not improperly divulge information obtained during the investigation process, including but not limited to deliberation, resolution, and examination.
