By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Gwanju Biennale Committee, the nation's largest art fair committee, said Monday that it will sue Shin Jeong-ah for tarnishing the art fair's reputation through a forgery scandal.
Shin, a 35-year-old art ``assistant professor'' at Dongguk University is at the center of a forgery case, in which she falsified her academics records. After news broke out that Shin did not earn degrees from the University of Kansas and Yale University, the Biennale Committee revoked its appointment of Shin as an art director for the 2008 biennale.
The organization said its attorneys have reviewed all possible legal steps and it has decided to file a complaint with Gwangju Prosecutors' Office around Wednesday on charges of fraud and obstruction of official duties.
Dongguk University also said that it is considering withdrawing its employment of Shin as assistant professor because of her fabrication of academic records.
A university official said that this means it will erase all record of Shin having worked there, which is much graver punishment than just a dismissal.
The punishment means that all the students who attended Shin's lectures will have these school records nullified, however, the school said it will seek ways to minimize damage to the students.
Shin submitted forged bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees when the university recruited her. She was then chosen as an artistic director for the 2008 Gwangju Biennale, despite disqualification in the initial vote.
Shin is said to have returned from a trip to Paris last Thursday, but turned off her mobile phone and refused any contact with the media.
She is also said to be using her friends' phones to get in touch with her acquaintances claiming that she is being wrongfully accused by people who hate her.
Shin flew to the U.S., Monday, to consult with Yale University and her attorneys to prepare a legal challenge to the ``conspiracy.''