Shin Jeong-ah scandal resurfaces

Series of libel suits expected from social heavyweights appearing in her book

By Kim Rahn

The Shin Jeong-ah scandal is back in the spotlight, about four years after the first public attention. This time it’s not because of her career fabrication but because of her alleged relationships with political and government heavyweights and their alleged disgraceful behavior.

Shin’s autobiography referring to such incidents is selling like hot cakes since its release Tuesday, while she may face libel suits from those portrayed to have had improper relationships with her because they all deny the claims.

The former Dongguk University lecturer and art curator, who served an 18-month jail term for academic fraud and gallery fund embezzlement, disclosed her relationships with several big names in various fields, including the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, former presidential policy planner Byeon Yang-kyoon, and a former Chosun Ilbo reporter whom she identified as “C.”

In the tell-all autobiography titled “4001,” her prison number, Shin said Roh met her after her grandmother, who was acquainted with the former President, asked him to pay attention to her granddaughter.

“Roh wanted to know what I did and to hear what ordinary citizens thought about his policies. He told me that I attract people’s attention, and asked me if I wanted to take a bigger position.

“Afterwards, he wanted to get my comments when releasing statements or having media briefings. Listening to my comments several times, he said I might be suitable for public relations or a spokesperson job,” she said.

Shin claimed that Roh showed interest in her but didn’t give her any direct help.

On Byeon, who had affairs with Shin and peddled influence to get her the professor position, Shin said she surrendered to his love. “He was my father, friend, and lover. We were in a complicated relationship, beyond love or adultery,” she said.

She disclosed emails Byeon sent her and described their dating scenes, first kiss and sexual intercourse.

Shin also denounced Chung’s immorality. She claimed Chung said he liked her and asked to meet late in the evening at a hotel bar several times, under the pretext of business.

Regarding the reporter C, who is now a National Assembly member, she said he sexually harassed her at a hotel karaoke bar and in a taxi. “After that incident, I no longer wear a skirt,” she said.

Due to the sensational stories including real names, more than 20,000 copies sold on the first day of the release. But involved figures are denying the allegations, and some of them are moving to sue for libel.

Chung said Tuesday that it was just her allegations and not worth talking about. An aide of Chung said, “Her claims are absurd and I see she is a megalomaniac. A book usually sells well when implicated in a lawsuit, and I guess it is her publisher’s strategy to get public attention.”

Reporter C said Shin’s account is a malicious lie. “It is defamation and I will take legal action against Shin and the publisher,” he told a local daily.

신정아 스캔들 다시 불거져

-자서전 등장 인물들로부터 명예훼손 소송 이어질 듯-

신정아 스캔들이 4년만에 다시 주목을 받고 있다. 이번에는 학력위조 때문이 아니라 정계와 정부 고위 인사들과의 얽히고 섥힌 관계와 치부들 때문이다.

이런 내용을 담은 신정아의 자서전은 화요일 출간 이후로 날개 돋힌 듯 팔리고 있지만, 등장인물들이 신씨의 주장을 부인하고 있기 때문에 신씨가 소송에 휩싸일 것으로 보인다.

학력위조와 횡령 혐의로 18개월 징역형을 받은 신씨는 자서전을 통해 노무현 전 대통령, 정운찬 전 국무총리, 변양균 전 청와대 정책실장, 조선일보 C 기자 등과의 관계에 대해 밝혔다.

신씨는 노 전 대통령과 안면이 있는 외할머니가 자신을 잘 봐달라고 한 후 노 전 대통령이 자기를 찾았다고 했다. 신씨는 자서전에서 “노대통령은 내가 무슨일을 하는지, 그리고 청와대 밖 사람들이 어떤 생각을 하는지 알고 싶어 했다. 노대통령은 내가 사람을 끄는 힘이 있다며 더 큰 일을 해 볼 생각이 있냐고 물었다. 노대통령은 담화문이나 기자간담회나 때 내 의견을 듣고 싶어 했다. 몇번 내 의견을 듣고, 그는 내게 홍보나 대변인 직이 잘 맞겠다고 했다.”고 주장했다.

신씨와 스캔들 당사자였던 변양균 전 정책실장에 대해, 그녀는 변씨의 사랑에 무너졌다고 했다. “그는 내 아빠이자, 친구이자, 연인이었다. 우리는 사랑이나 불륜으로 말할 수 없는 복잡한 관계였다.”

신씨는 또한 정 전 총리의 부도덕성을 비난했다. 신씨는, 정 전 총리가 그녀를 좋아한다고 말했고, 일을 핑계로 늦은 시간에 호텔 바에서 만나자고 했다고 주장했다.

신씨는 지금 국회의원인 C기자가 호텔바와 택시 안에서 자신을 성추행했다고 밝혔다. “그 일 이후로 나는 치마를 입지 않는다.”

실명을 거론한 선정적 내용에 힘입어 신씨의 책은 첫날 2만원이 팔려나갔다. 그러나 관련 인물들은 내용을 부정하고 있고, 일부는 소송을 준비하고 있다.