:: The Journal of Chinese Character Studies ::

Ethical Provision of Researches (연구윤리규정)

Research Ethics Regulations (Academic Standards)

Chapter I. General Provisions

Article 1 (Purpose): The purpose of these Regulations is to establish the fundamental principles of research ethics governing Hanja Research.

Article 2 (Scope): These Regulations apply to all forms of conduct that violate research ethics, including, but not limited to, plagiarism and self-plagiarism.

Chapter II. Specific Provisions of Research Ethics

Article 3 (Definitions): Research misconduct refers to any act that distorts the objective facts of research during the process of conducting or publishing research, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication, and other forms of academic misconduct.

Article 4 (Prohibition of Falsification and Fabrication)

1. Researchers shall not falsify any research data or research results.
2. Researchers shall not fabricate or falsify research data or findings that deviate from actual facts.
3. When citing or modifying the research results of others, researchers shall provide appropriate acknowledgment and citation.
4. If any part of a manuscript may give rise to a conflict of interest involving the author, such conflict shall be disclosed to the Editorial Board regardless of whether it affects the research results.

Article 5 (Prohibition of Plagiarism)

1. Researchers shall not use the ideas, research processes, or research results of others without proper acknowledgment.
2. Likewise, researchers shall not republish their own previously published research results without proper citation or disclosure.
3. Where plagiarism is suspected, a Research Ethics Committee shall be convened to investigate the allegation.
4. If plagiarism is confirmed, the individual concerned shall be prohibited from submitting manuscripts to the journal for a period of three years.

Article 6 (Prohibition of Duplicate Publication)

1. Duplicate publication refers to the republication or reissuance, in whole or in part, of research results that have already been published by the same author.
2. Researchers shall not engage in duplicate publication as defined in Paragraph 1.
3. Researchers shall not merely abridge or condense their degree thesis for submission and publication.
4. The inclusion of a previously published journal article in a separately published monograph or collected volume shall not constitute duplicate publication.
5. When a researcher translates previously published foreign-language research into Korean for publication, the fact of such prior publication shall be clearly disclosed.
6. The translation of previously published Korean-language research into a foreign language for publication abroad, for the purpose of broadly disseminating research findings and promoting academic exchange, shall not constitute duplicate publication.
7. The revision, supplementation, and subsequent publication of papers previously included in conference proceedings, non-scholarly magazines, or posted online in draft form shall not constitute duplicate publication.
8. When publishing new research findings, researchers who quote or describe portions of previously published work shall clearly indicate the source and nature of the prior publication.

Article 7 (Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools)

Section 1. Fundamental Principles

1. Researchers who use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the course of research or manuscript preparation shall adhere to the principles of transparency, honesty, and academic integrity.
2. AI tools may be used only as auxiliary instruments and shall not replace the independent thinking or academic judgment of researchers.
3. Regardless of whether AI tools are used, researchers shall bear full responsibility for the final research outcomes.

Section 2. Scope and Limitations of Use

2.1 Permitted Uses
AI tools may be used for language editing, grammar correction, translation assistance, literature searches, data organization, formatting assistance, code debugging, statistical analysis support, chart preparation, data visualization, and the preliminary discussion of research ideas and creative brainstorming, provided that such use is properly disclosed in accordance with these Regulations.

2.2 Prohibited or Strictly Restricted Uses
The use of AI tools for generating the core arguments or conclusions of a paper, fabricating or manipulating experimental or research data, plagiarizing or reconstructing the research results of others without authorization, or relying entirely on AI-generated peer-review comments or evaluations is prohibited or strictly restricted under these Regulations.

Section 3. Disclosure Requirements

3.1 Circumstances Requiring Explicit Disclosure
The use of AI tools shall be explicitly disclosed in a manuscript when AI has had a substantial influence on the research design or methodological choices, has assisted in generating significant analytical content or interpretations, has been used to process large volumes of data in a manner that affects the presentation of research findings, or has been used to generate more than 200 words of the manuscript text.

3.2 Circumstances Exempt from Detailed Disclosure
The use of AI tools for simple grammar and spelling corrections, formatting and layout adjustments, basic data retrieval and organization, or reference formatting may be regarded as ordinary tool use and may be disclosed collectively in a general statement at the end of the manuscript.

3.3 Methods of Disclosure

1. Where disclosure is required, authors shall indicate within the text or in a footnote that the relevant content was prepared with the assistance of an AI tool.
2. In addition, the name, version, and scope of use of the AI tool shall be disclosed in a statement at the end of the manuscript, and the specific role of the AI tool in the research process shall be explained in the methodology section.

Section 4. Review and Evaluation Standards

4.1 Responsibilities of Reviewers

1. Reviewers shall possess a basic ability to identify AI-generated content.
2. They shall not rely entirely on AI tools when conducting manuscript reviews.
3. Where a manuscript appears to involve excessive use of AI, reviewers shall request an explanation from the author.
4. Review comments shall be based on the reviewer's own professional judgment, and any use of AI assistance in preparing review comments shall be disclosed.

4.2 Responsibilities of the Editorial Office

1. The Editorial Office shall establish mechanisms for detecting and verifying the use of AI tools, provide researchers with training and guidance concerning the use of AI, and investigate and appropriately address cases involving violations of these Regulations.

Section 5. Violations and Sanctions

5.1 Criteria for Determining Violations

1. Violations of these Regulations include intentionally concealing the use of AI tools, presenting AI-generated content as entirely original work, relying excessively on AI in a manner that significantly diminishes academic quality, and using AI tools to engage in academic misconduct.

5.2 Sanctions for Violations

1. In cases of minor violations, authors may be required to revise the manuscript and provide additional disclosure.
2. In cases of moderate violations, the manuscript may be returned for revision and publication may be postponed.
3. Serious violations may result in rejection of publication and notification of the author's affiliated institution.
4. Extremely serious violations may result in the author being placed on a blacklist and prohibited from submitting manuscripts for a specified period.

Section 6. Implementation and Revision

1. These Regulations shall take effect immediately upon promulgation. In response to developments in AI technology, the Regulations shall be reviewed and revised periodically.
2. The interpretation and implementation of these Regulations shall be the responsibility of the Research Ethics Committee.
3. Any new circumstances not covered by these Regulations shall be referred to the Committee for deliberation and determination.

Section 7. Supplementary Provisions

1. These Regulations shall apply to all manuscripts submitted to Hanja Research.
2. Authors have an obligation to familiarize themselves with and comply with these Regulations.
3. Any inquiries concerning these Regulations shall be directed to the Editorial Office.

Chapter III. Research Ethics Committee

Article 8 (Purpose)

1. The Research Ethics Committee is established to uphold research ethics and to prevent and investigate cases of research misconduct.
2. The Committee shall be convened when issues involving violations of research ethics arise.
3. Information relating to whistleblowers shall not be disclosed.

Article 9 (Composition)

1. Where an investigation into alleged research misconduct is deemed necessary, the Chairperson may establish a Research Ethics Committee upon resolution of the Committee.
2. The Committee shall consist of five to seven members, including the Editor-in-Chief.
3. More than fifty percent of the Committee members shall be individuals possessing extensive knowledge and experience in the relevant field of research.
4. Any person having a direct conflict of interest in the matter under investigation shall not be appointed as a member of the Committee.
5. Committee meetings shall, in principle, be conducted in private.

Article 10 (Authority)

1. During an investigation, the Committee shall have the authority to require the complainant, the respondent, witnesses, and other relevant persons to appear before the Committee and submit relevant materials.
2. Where the respondent fails to appear or refuses to submit requested materials without justifiable grounds, such conduct may be regarded as an admission of the alleged misconduct.
3. During the course of an investigation, the Committee shall make every effort to prevent the manuscript under investigation and the researcher concerned from being subjected to unfair treatment.

Article 11 (Disciplinary Measures)

1. Based on the results of its investigation and deliberation, the Research Ethics Committee may impose disciplinary measures, including verbal warnings, written warnings, submission bans, suspension of qualifications, and retraction of publication.
2. The period of a submission ban shall be three years.

Article 12 (Records): The Research Ethics Committee shall maintain written records of all investigations, deliberations, and resolutions, and such records shall be retained for a period of five years.

Article 13 (Notification): The Chairperson shall prepare a written report concerning the findings of the investigation and shall promptly notify the respondent, the complainant, and other relevant parties.

Article 14 (Reconsideration): If either the respondent or the complainant disagrees with a decision of the Committee, he or she may submit a written statement of objection to the Committee within twenty days from the date of notification.

Article 15 (Confidentiality)

1. The Committee shall protect the complainant and shall make every effort to prevent undue harm to the reputation of the respondent.
2. All matters relating to reporting, investigation, deliberation, and recommendations shall remain confidential.
3. However, where disclosure is deemed necessary, such information may be disclosed upon resolution of the Committee.
4. Individuals directly involved in the Committee's proceedings or investigations shall not disclose any information obtained in the course of such activities, whether during or after the investigation.

Chapter IV. Supplementary Provisions

Article 16 (Effective Date)

1. These Research Ethics Regulations shall take effect on September 1st, 2009.

Enactment and Revision History
Enacted: September 1, 2009
Revised: June 21, 2010
Revised: March 1, 2011
Revised: June 21, 2011
Revised: August 31, 2011
Revised: September 1, 2012
Revised: December 1, 2013
Revised: April 15, 2014
Revised: September 1, 2014
Revised: April 10, 2015
Revised: January 1, 2020
Revised: May 1, 2023
Revised: August 1, 2025