Research and publication ethics
Enacted on November 12, 2006; 1st revised on November 9, 2017
2nd revised in April 1, 2026
1. Authorship
All designated authors should meet the criteria for authorship and be appropriately listed. Authorship credit should be based on substantial contributions to all four categories established by the ICMJE (https://www.icmje.org/recommendations: (1) conception and design, or acquisition, or analysis and interpretation of data; (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; (3) final approval of the version to be published; and (4) agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. Individuals who do not meet these criteria may be acknowledged as contributors in the Acknowledgments section. Acquisition of funding, collection of data, and general supervision of the research group, by themselves, does not justify authorship.
- Role of corresponding author: The corresponding author takes primary responsibility for communication with the journal throughout the submission, peer review, and publication processes. This author ensures that all administrative requirements of the journal are met, including: (1) providing details of authorship, (2) securing ethics committee approval, (3) submitting clinical trial registration documentation, and (4) completing conflicts of interest forms and statements. While some of these tasks may be delegated to coauthors, the corresponding author remains accountable for their completion. They must be available to respond promptly to editorial queries during submission and peer review, and address critiques and journal requests for data post-publication.
- Correction of authorship: Requests for changes in authorship (adding/removing authors or rearranging order) after submission but before manuscript acceptance must be submitted in writing to the editor with justification, signed by all authors, and require the editor’s approval. All authors must complete the copyright assignment form. Post-publication, authorship changes will not be permitted, even in the case of editorial staff errors, as authors are responsible for verifying authorship during the final proofreading process.
- Recommendations for working with individuals with personal connections: Authors must disclose if minors (under 19) or family members (spouse, children, relatives) are involved in the research or publication in the cover letter.
- Use of AI-assisted technologies: In line with ICMJE policies, AI tools (e.g., generative AI, language models, chatbots) can be used to enhance scientific writing and language accuracy but cannot be listed as authors.
2. Originality, plagiarism, and duplicate publication
All submitted manuscripts must be original and not under consideration by other journals. Accepted manuscripts should not be duplicated in any other journal without permission from the Editorial Board. If duplicate publication is detected, the authors will be publicly announced, their institutions informed, and penalties imposed. We do not consider posting on a preprint server to be duplicate publication, and it will not affect the manuscript's consideration for publication.
Plagiarism: Similarity Check (https://www.crossref.org/services/similarity-check/) is used to screen manuscripts for plagiarism or duplicate publication. Plagiarism is defined as reproducing another work without attribution. If plagiarism is detected before or after acceptance, or after publication, the author will have a chance for rebuttal Unsatisfactory rebuttals will result in retraction and a publication ban for a period determined by the editor(s). Figures and tables can be used freely if the original source is verified according to the Creative Commons Non-Commercial License. Authors must resolve any copyright issues when citing figures or tables from non-open access journals.
3. Secondary publication
Manuscripts can be republished if they meet the ICMJE Recommendations for secondary publication available from https://www.icmje.org/recommendations:
(1) Certain types of articles, such as guidelines from governmental agencies and professional organizations, may be published in multiple journals to reach a broader audience with the consent of the authors and editors.
(2) Secondary publication in another language or country is permissible if: both journals' editors approve (the editor concerned with the secondary publication must have access to the primary version), and publication interval of at least one week is maintained, unless otherwise agreed.
(3) The secondary version targets a different readership and may be abbreviated. It must reflect the primary version's data and interpretations accurately. The title page of the secondary version must indicate its secondary nature and cite the primary publication, e.g., “This article is based on a study first reported in [journal title, full reference].”
4. Conflicts of interest
The corresponding author must ensure that any conflicts of interest related to the submitted manuscript are disclosed in the manuscript and take responsibility for this disclosure. Potential conflicts should be reported even if the authors believe they were not influenced in preparing the manuscript. All authors must disclose i.e., (1) financial relationships (such as employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony), (2) personal relationship, (3) academic competition, and (4) intellectual passion. These disclosures should be included on the title page. A completed conflict of interest form should be submitted during manuscript submission.
5. Management of research and publication misconduct
When the journal faces suspected cases of research and publication misconduct, such as redundant (duplicate) publication, plagiarism, fabricated data, changes in authorship, undisclosed conflicts of interest, ethical problems with the submitted manuscript, a reviewer appropriating an author’s idea or data, complaints against editors, and other issues, resolution processes will follow the applicable COPE flowchart (https://publicationethics.org/resources/flowcharts). Suspected cases will be discussed and decided upon by the Editorial Board.
6. Editorial responsibilities
The Editorial Board is committed to upholding publication ethics by continuously monitoring and safeguarding ethical standards. This includes retracting articles when necessary, maintaining the integrity of the academic record, and ensuring that business needs do not compromise intellectual and ethical standards. The Board is also responsible for publishing corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies when needed, and for preventing plagiarism and fraudulent data in publications. Editors have the responsibility and authority to accept or reject articles. They must avoid any conflicts of interest with respect to the articles they evaluate and ensure the accuracy of accepted papers. Additionally, editors are responsible for promoting the publication of corrections or retractions when errors are found and for preserving the anonymity of reviewers.
7.Research Ethics Council and role of the council
To address research ethics and related issues, a Research Ethics Council (the Council) is convened by the Editor-in-Chief when necessary. The Editor-in-Chief serves as the chair of the Council, or may designate another person to act as the chair. The composition of the Council members is determined by the chair. The Council operates until the issue under review is fully resolved. The roles of the Research Ethics Council are as follows:
1) The Council reviews research ethics issues arising from the publication of the Journal and related papers (original articles, review articles, and others).
2) The Council investigates allegations of forgery, alteration, plagiarism, wrongful authorship indication, or multiple/duplicate publication for published papers and reports the findings to the Executive Committee.
8. Administration of research ethics violation
1) When research ethics violations occur, the Chair of the Council must convene a meeting immediately to review the situation and report the findings to the Editorial Board.
2) The council must keep any investigation of ethics violations confidential and ensure that the investigation does not conflict with the interests of the Journal.
3) Upon completing the investigation, the Council will decide on the appropriate level of punishment for the violator (author or corresponding author) based on the severity of the violation. The Council may prohibit the violator from publishing in the Journal for a specified period or exclude them permanently.
4) The Council will keep a record of the investigation and the results of any ethical misconduct.
5) If the Council confirms ethical misconduct in a paper, the Executive Committee will announce the case and disapprove the publication of the paper in the Journal. If the paper has already been published, it will be removed from the Journal’s list of papers, and this action will be announced to the Journal's members and related academic institutions.
9. Use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies
The following principles shall apply to the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of manuscripts and materials for publication. Where authors use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the writing process, such technologies should be used only in a limited manner to improve the readability, language, and clarity of the manuscript. Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies must not be used to replace scholarly judgment, draw scientific conclusions, or generate the core ideas of the research. The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies must always be subject to human oversight and control, and authors must carefully review the output generated by such technologies and make any necessary revisions. Authors bear full responsibility and accountability for the entire content of the manuscript.
If authors use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of a manuscript, they must explicitly disclose such use within the manuscript. Such disclosure helps promote transparency and trust among authors, readers, reviewers, editors, and other stakeholders, and also facilitates compliance with the terms of use of the relevant tool or technology.
Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies must not be listed as an author or co-author, nor cited as an author. Authorship implies responsibilities and roles that can be attributed only to humans. Each author is responsible for appropriately examining and resolving questions related to the accuracy and integrity of the manuscript, and must be able to approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission. Authors are also responsible for ensuring the originality of the manuscript, confirming that all listed authors meet the criteria for authorship, and ensuring that the manuscript does not infringe upon any third-party rights. Authors should familiarize themselves with this journal’s research and publication ethics policies prior to submission.
10. Confidentiality and use of generative AI in peer review
Reviewers must treat as confidential all manuscripts, supplementary materials, review reports, and any information encountered during the editorial and peer review process. Reviewers must not enter or upload the submitted manuscript, in whole or in part, or any confidential information concerning the manuscript or its authors into external generative AI tools or similar automated systems. Scholarly judgment, critical evaluation, and final assessment required for peer review must remain under human responsibility, and reviewers bear full responsibility for the accuracy and appropriateness of the review reports they submit. Unless explicitly permitted by the journal, generative AI must not be used in the preparation or revision of peer review reports.
11. Regulations for Preventing Research Misconduct Involving Related-Party Co-authors
A related-party co-author refers to a case in which a researcher involves a minor (under the age of 19) or a family member (such as a spouse, child, or relative within the fourth degree of kinship) in research or jointly authors a paper with them. In such cases, the following procedures shall be followed to prevent research misconduct:
1) Prior to submitting a manuscript, the researcher must notify the editorial board in advance of the involvement of a related party, and must comply with general research ethics guidelines regarding joint research and co-authorship with related parties.
2) When submitting a manuscript that includes a related-party co-author, the corresponding author must submit prior written consent for the provision of the related party’s personal information to the editorial board.
3) If research misconduct involving a related party is confirmed, a Research Ethics Committee shall be convened to proceed with disciplinary measures. Additionally, if the related-party co-author has gained any benefit from the paper (e.g., admission or advancement in school, affiliation with a research institution), the institution concerned shall be officially notified of the misconduct.
12. Selection and description of participants
Ensure correct use of the terms sex (when reporting biological factors) and gender (identity, psychosocial or cultural factors), and, unless inappropriate, report the sex and/or gender of study participants, the sex of animals or cells, and describe the methods used to determine sex and gender. If the study was done involving an exclusive population, for example in only one sex, authors should justify why, except in obvious cases (e.g., prostate cancer). Authors should define how they determined race or ethnicity and justify their relevance.13. Statement of human and animal rights
Investigations involving humans must be conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki-ethical-principles-for-medical-research-involving-human-subjects/). Clinical studies not adhering to the Helsinki Declaration will not be considered for publication. For animal research, studies must comply with the National or Institutional Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, ensuring the ethical treatment of all experimental animals.
14. Statement of informed consent and IRB approval
Research involving humans or animals must be approved by the institution's Research Ethics Committee (REC), Institutional Review Board (IRB), or Animal Care Committee. For human studies, informed consent must be obtained unless waived by the IRB. Copies of written informed consent (from the patient, or from a parent or guardian if the patient is not capable) and IRB approval should be retained. Editors or reviewers may request these documents. The manuscript must explicitly state that written informed consent was obtained from all study participants. For animal studies, approval from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is required.
15. Protection of privacy and confidentiality
Patients have a right to privacy that must not be violated without informed consent. Identifying information, such as names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be published unless essential for scientific purposes and with written informed consent from the patient (or parent or guardian). Nonessential identifying details should be omitted. If there is any doubt about maintaining anonymity, informed consent is necessary, as masking the eye region in photographs is inadequate. If identifying characteristics are deidentified, authors must assure, and editors must confirm, that these changes do not distort scientific meaning.
16. Registration of clinical trial research
Any research involving a clinical trial should be registered with the primary national clinical trial registry site, such as the Korea Clinical Research Information Service (CRiS, http://cris.nih.go.kr), any other primary national registry site accredited by the World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/clinical-trials-registry-platform/network), or ClinicalTrials.gov (http://clinicaltrials.gov/), a service of the United States NIH.
