.jpg) Oh Young-kyo, president of Dongguk University, announces the results of the university’s investigation into academic record fabrication by Shin Jeong-ah, an assistant professor, at a press conference in Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap |
Staff Reporter
Dongguk University Friday decided to dismiss Shin Jeong-ah, assistant professor of art at the school, for fabricating academic records including a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from Yale University.
It also decided to file complaints to the prosecution for further investigation on others included in the fiasco. ``The people responsible for the incident will be punished,'' Oh Young-kyo, president of the university, said. He made a public apology over the case.
Han Jin-soo, vice president of the university and head of the school's investigation committee, said that Shin was recommended by Hong Ki-sam, who was then president of the university, over the hiring in 2005. The art department rejected hiring her because of her lack of academic background, but the president strongly requested her recruitment.
However, Han said that it was Hong's passion to increase the school's profile that pressured the department, and that no money or kickbacks were received.
The decision came after three hours of discussion over the case among board members.
However, the results announced were inadequate, as many people still have unsolved questions.
Shin was not included in any part of the procedure. She was abroad when the news first broke, but returned to Korea last Thursday only to fly to New York again Monday. However, the school did not call her in nor request from her related documents pertaining to the investigation.
Though a number of allegations emerged that top officials of the university foundation tried to secure and defend Shin's position and recruitment, the investigative committee failed to pose important questions.
The university was revealed to have neglected the Korea College Art Association's report that Shin's diploma was a fake. In April the association received a letter from Prof. Christine Mehring of Yale University saying that Shin was never one of her students and that she had never read any papers written under her name. The school, however, did not take any action on the report, which brought the allegation that heads of the foundation were attempting a cover-up.
The committee's report is not adequate, experts said. Questioning Buddhist Monk Hyunhae, former director of the board of the university who had approved Shin's hiring, and Hong, the former president, is also needed, they said.
Protests were held in the front of the university when 30 members of Jeondeung Temple in Ganghwado, Gyeonggi Province complained to the school asking for a thorough investigation into the case.
Meanwhile, Shin, said to be staying in the U.S. to collect evidence that can prove her innocence, has disappeared from the media radar and is said to be out of touch with others, too.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
