Trot singer Hong Jin-young's master's dissertation paper, which she wrote 11 years ago, has tentatively been concluded to be plagiarized, Chosun University, where she completed the masters and her Ph.D, announced on Tuesday.

The research integrity committee under Chosun University’s research ethics team which investigated Hong's dissertation sent an official letter to Chosun University graduate school saying it judged that the paper had been plagiarized.

The graduate school reportedly asked Hong to submit her opinion by Dec. 18. After hearing from Hong's side, the graduate school will make a final decision on the matter next week. If it is decided that the dissertation was plagiarized, both Hong's master's and doctorate degrees will be revoked.

Last month, local newspaper Kukmin Ilbo reported that Hong's master's dissertation titled "Study on the cultural content industry through Hallyu" scored a 74 percent plagiarism rating on the plagiarism review website CopyKiller.

Her agency IMH Entertainment denied the speculation, but Hong said she would return her master's degree, adding it was a shame to be embroiled in such allegations after having worked so hard for the past 10 years.

BY KIM YEON-AH [kim.yeonah@joongang.co.kr]