Review & Ethics

Article 1 (Purpose)

These regulations govern the establishment of research ethics for contributors to the journal, the prevention of research misconduct, and the organization and operation of the Research Ethics and Integrity Committee (the 'Committee') for fair and systematic verification and handling when misconduct occurs.

Article 2 (Definitions)

① Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, improper authorship, or duplicate use of material committed in the proposal, conduct, reporting, or presentation of research — excluding minor error and differences of interpretation or judgment concerning data or results. Authors are also obliged to report conflicts of interest and papers involving minors or family members ('special relations') to the editorial board; failure to do so likewise constitutes a violation.

1. 'Fabrication' is the invention of non-existent data or results.

2. 'Falsification' is the manipulation of research materials, equipment, or processes, or the arbitrary alteration or deletion of data, distorting research content or results.

3. 'Plagiarism' is the appropriation of others' ideas, research content, or results without due approval or citation.

4. 'Self-plagiarism' is republishing one's own published paper under a changed title, or re-using parts of it without indication.

5. 'Improper authorship' is denying authorship without just cause to a person who contributed, or granting authorship — out of gratitude or courtesy — to a person who did not.

6. 'Duplicate use of material' is republishing one's own already-published material without due approval or citation.

7. Authors must report conflicts of interest — the pursuit of private or economic gain for oneself or one's family by use of one's position — to the editorial board at the time of submission.

8. Authors submitting papers with participation of minors (under 19) or family members within four degrees of kinship must report this to the editorial board, consent in the prescribed form to the provision of personal information, and explain why the special relation must be included.

9. Proposing, coercing, or threatening others to commit any of the above also constitutes misconduct.

10. Other acts that clearly exceed the bounds ordinarily tolerated in the academic community.

② 'Informant' means a person who reports recognized misconduct or related evidence to the association. ③ 'Respondent' means a person under investigation following a report or by the Committee, or presumed to have joined in misconduct in the course of an investigation (witnesses and advisors excluded). ④ 'Preliminary inquiry' determines whether a formal investigation is needed; ⑤ 'main investigation' verifies the facts of the alleged misconduct; ⑥ 'adjudication' confirms the findings and notifies informant and respondent in writing.

Article 3 (Composition)

The Committee is a standing committee within the editorial board, composed of a chair and six members appointed by the president of the association. The editor-in-chief chairs the Committee, represents it, and presides over its meetings.

Article 4 (Duties)

The Committee deliberates and resolves on: systems for research ethics and integrity; receipt of misconduct reports and designation of the handling office; preliminary inquiries; composition and duties of investigation panels and approval of their findings; protection of informants and restoration of respondents' honor; and other matters referred by the chair.

Article 5 (Meetings)

The chair convenes and presides over meetings. Resolutions require attendance of a majority of members and the assent of two thirds of those present.

Article 6 (Reports)

Reports may be made to the editorial board by any available means — orally, in writing, by telephone, or by e-mail — in principle under one's real name. Anonymous reports must be made in writing or by e-mail, identifying the research project or paper and providing the specific substance of and evidence for the alleged misconduct. An informant who reported what they knew or could have known to be false is not protected.

Article 7 (Preliminary inquiry)

The Committee begins a preliminary inquiry within 15 days of receiving a report and completes it within 30 days of its start, subject to the Committee's approval. The inquiry examines whether the reported conduct falls under Article 2 ① and whether the report is specific and clear enough to warrant a main investigation. No limitation period applies.

Article 8 (Report of the inquiry)

The result is notified to the informant in writing within 10 days of approval (except for anonymous reports). The report includes the substance of the allegation and the informant's identity, the alleged misconduct and the papers concerned, whether a main investigation will be conducted and the grounds for that judgment, and the relevant evidence.

Article 9 (Main investigation)

The main investigation begins within 15 days of approval of the inquiry's findings, during which period an investigation panel is formed. It is completed, adjudication included, within 30 days of its start; the panel may request an extension from the Committee with reasons.

Article 10 (Investigation panel)

The panel has six or more members, including at least three with expert knowledge and experience in the field, and — for fairness and objectivity — at least one external member unaffiliated with the respondent's alma mater or institution. Persons with an interest in the case may not sit. The informant is told the panel's membership before the investigation begins, and justified objections to members are accepted.

Article 11 (Attendance and materials)

At the panel's request, the Committee may require the informant, respondent, and witnesses to appear and testify, and the respondent to submit materials; a respondent so required must comply.

Article 12 (Protection and confidentiality)

The informant's identity must never be exposed directly or indirectly, and the informant's name is omitted from reports unless strictly necessary. Harm suffered by an informant for reporting must be remedied. Until verification is complete, the respondent's honor and rights must not be infringed, and efforts must be made to restore the honor of a respondent cleared of suspicion. All matters related to the investigation are confidential; those involved may not disclose information acquired in its course, save disclosure with due cause resolved by the Committee.

Article 13 (Right to be heard)

The panel guarantees the informant and respondent equal rights and opportunities to state opinions, raise objections, and present a defense.

Article 14 (Final report)

The panel submits a final report to the Committee based on the statements, objections, and defenses, including: the allegation; the alleged misconduct and papers concerned; the respondent's role and whether the allegation is founded; the evidence; objections or defenses and their disposition; and the panel's membership.

Article 15 (Adjudication)

The Committee confirms the findings and results of the final report and notifies the informant and the respondent.

Article 16 (Measures)

Upon receiving the Committee's findings, the president immediately retracts the paper and restricts submissions by any person who committed misconduct, deliberately obstructed an investigation, or harmed an informant, and announces this in the journal and on the association's website. Where misconduct involves conflicts of interest or the participation of minors or special relations, the institutions that benefited from the paper are notified.

Article 17 (Records)

Records of inquiries and investigations are kept by the Committee for five years after the investigation ends. The final report may be disclosed after adjudication, excluding information identifying informants, panel members, witnesses, and advisors.

Article 18 (Detailed rules)

The Committee may separately determine details necessary for the implementation of these regulations.