Shin Jeong-ah may be fading from the public’s memory but Yale and Dongguk, the two reputable universities, are set to suffer as the result of a lawsuit over her. |
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Shin Jeong-ah, who became a professor at Dongguk University thanks to a fake diploma from Yale University, may be fading from the public's memory.
She remains in prison after being sentenced to a year and six months in confinement last year.
However, the two universities are still battling over the "mistake" the American university made when Dongguk requested verification of the authenticity of Shin's Ph.D. from the Ivy-league school.
Dongguk sued Yale last year, alleging the mistake had significantly damaged its reputation. The Korean school is scheduled to hold a media conference today to announce its stance on the lingering legal battle. Dongguk is seeking $50 million in compensation.
In response to the legal challenge by the Buddhist school, Yale has argued it caused no harm and that Dongguk is seeking to shift the blame for its own inadequate efforts onto Yale, claiming that the blame for hiring such a person should rest with the Korean school.
Recently, in an interview with the New York Times, Tom Conroy, a Yale spokesman, said there was no negligence or recklessness involved on the part of the U.S. university.
If the case goes to trial, Conroy was quoted as saying, "We think the jury will certainly consider the fact that the chairman of Dongguk's board was convicted of soliciting and receiving an illegal government subsidy from Shin's lover, who was an adviser to the Korean president."
Although Shin never attended Yale, she fabricated a letter from the school proving the authenticity of her Ph.D. degree and landed the professor position.
When her Yale credentials were questioned by some people in 2005, Dongguk asked Yale for confirmation.
Then, when questions arose in 2007 regarding the authenticity of Shin's credentials, Yale first denied having verified that Shin graduated from Yale.
In December in that year, Yale officials realized their mistake and apologized for the first time. However, Dongguk filed a suit in the Connecticut District court against Yale in March last year.
Yale immediately requested the court to reject the case, but this was dismissed. Unless the two universities come to a settlement soon, a trial is expected to commence.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
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무디스, 스페인·伊·포르투갈 신용등급 강등
