Kyungsung University

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC VISION

Kyungsung University demonstrates an exceptionally strong scientific integrity profile, with an overall risk score of -0.589 that indicates robust and responsible research practices. The institution exhibits a very low-risk profile across the majority of indicators, particularly in areas concerning authorship integrity, quality control, and publication ethics, such as the rates of retracted output, hyper-authored output, and hyperprolific authors. This foundation of integrity directly supports the university's leading positions in South Korea, as evidenced by SCImago Institutions Rankings data, particularly in Business, Management and Accounting; Arts and Humanities; and Agricultural and Biological Sciences. The university's mission to ensure "dynamic competitiveness through fusion and close relationships" is well-served by this high level of scientific rigor, as it guarantees that collaborations and competitive pursuits are built on a sustainable and ethical framework, free from the reputational threats of academic endogamy or inflated metrics. To further consolidate this position of excellence, we recommend maintaining vigilant oversight on the minor vulnerabilities identified, ensuring that these high standards of integrity continue to be a cornerstone of the institution's identity and strategy.

ANALYSIS BY INDICATOR

Rate of Multiple Affiliations

With an institutional Z-score of -0.727, Kyungsung University's rate of multiple affiliations is low, yet it represents a slight divergence from the national baseline in South Korea (Z-score: -0.886), which shows a near-total absence of this signal. This suggests the emergence of a minor risk activity that is not yet visible at the national level. While multiple affiliations are often a legitimate result of researcher mobility or partnerships, this subtle deviation warrants observation to ensure it reflects genuine collaboration rather than early signs of strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit or “affiliation shopping.”

Rate of Retracted Output

The university's performance in this area is exemplary, with a Z-score of -0.569, indicating a near-complete absence of retracted publications. This result is significantly better than the national average for South Korea (Z-score: -0.049), demonstrating low-profile consistency and a commitment to quality that exceeds the national standard. Retractions can signify responsible supervision when correcting honest errors; however, the university's extremely low rate suggests that its quality control mechanisms prior to publication are highly effective, preventing systemic failures and protecting its strong integrity culture.

Rate of Institutional Self-Citation

Kyungsung University displays a prudent profile regarding institutional self-citation, with a Z-score of -0.732 that is notably lower than the national average of -0.393. This indicates that the institution manages its citation practices with more rigor than the typical standard in South Korea. A certain level of self-citation is natural, but the university's controlled rate effectively mitigates the risk of creating scientific 'echo chambers.' This approach ensures that the institution's academic influence is validated by the broader global community rather than being inflated by internal dynamics.

Rate of Output in Discontinued Journals

The institution's Z-score for publications in discontinued journals is -0.114, which, while low, is slightly higher than the national average of -0.217. This suggests an incipient vulnerability, where the university shows minor signals that warrant review before they could potentially escalate. A high proportion of output in such journals can be a critical alert regarding due diligence in selecting dissemination channels. This indicator serves as a reminder of the importance of enhancing information literacy among researchers to avoid channeling valuable scientific production into media that may not meet international ethical or quality standards, thereby preventing reputational risks.

Rate of Hyper-Authored Output

With a Z-score of -1.334, the university shows a near-total absence of hyper-authored publications, a figure that aligns perfectly with the low-risk environment observed nationally (Country Z-score: -0.228). This low-profile consistency indicates that authorship practices are well-governed and transparent. In fields outside of 'Big Science,' extensive author lists can signal inflation or a dilution of individual accountability. The university's excellent result confirms that its collaborative work is structured to avoid 'honorary' or political authorship, reinforcing the integrity of its research contributions.

Gap between Impact of total output and the impact of output with leadership

The university demonstrates a prudent profile in its impact dependency, with a Z-score of -0.536, which is more favorable than the South Korean average of -0.320. This indicates that the institution manages its research collaborations with greater rigor than the national standard. A narrow gap suggests that the university's scientific prestige is not overly reliant on external partners but is instead built on strong internal capacity and intellectual leadership. This structural soundness is a key indicator of sustainable and self-sufficient academic excellence.

Rate of Hyperprolific Authors

Kyungsung University's Z-score of -1.413 is exceptionally low, signaling a complete absence of hyperprolific authorship and aligning with a national context of responsible productivity (Country Z-score: -0.178). This low-profile consistency is a strong positive indicator. Extreme individual publication volumes can challenge the limits of meaningful intellectual contribution and may point to risks like coercive authorship or a focus on quantity over quality. The university's performance here suggests a healthy research culture that prioritizes the integrity of the scientific record over the inflation of metrics.

Rate of Output in Institutional Journals

The university's Z-score of -0.268 for output in its own journals shows integrity synchrony, as it is in total alignment with the national environment of maximum scientific security (Country Z-score: -0.252). The negligible rate of publication in in-house journals is a testament to the institution's commitment to independent, external peer review. This practice avoids potential conflicts of interest and the risk of academic endogamy, ensuring that its scientific production is validated through standard competitive channels and achieves global visibility.

Rate of Redundant Output

With a Z-score of -0.495, the university demonstrates an outstandingly low rate of redundant output, performing better than the already low-risk national standard in South Korea (Z-score: -0.379). This low-profile consistency highlights a culture that prioritizes substantive contributions over artificial productivity. The near-absence of 'salami slicing'—the practice of fragmenting a study into minimal publishable units—indicates that researchers are focused on generating significant new knowledge rather than simply inflating their publication counts, thereby strengthening the overall scientific record.