By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

The arrest of degree scammer Shin Jeong-ah and former presidential secretary Byeon Yang-kyoon late Thursday is likely to lead to an intensive investigation into their alleged connections with a Seoul university and an art gallery where Shin worked.

As the two have been charged with complicity in ``third-party bribery,'' the prosecution will focus on people who allegedly offered them bribes. The charge is applied when a person exercises influence to the benefit of a third person _ namely Byeon's alleged long-time romantic partner Shin.

Dongguk University officials will face questioning as they are suspected of having hired Shin in 2005 in return for favors from Byeon, including receiving huge government subsidies. If it is confirmed that Byeon helped the school obtain 16 billion won since 2006 in exchange for employing Shin, the school's former President Hong Ki-sam and other officials will be charged with bribery.

Companies that donated some one billion won in sponsorships to Sungkok Art Museum, where Shin was a curator, are also under investigation. Prosecutors suspect the firms accommodated Byeon's pressure to contribute to the gallery to curry favor with the then Cheong Wa Dae secretary for policy planning.

Byeon also abused his power to illegally provide state subsidies to Heungdeok Temple in Ulju, the head monk of which is Yeongbae, the chief of Dongguk University's board of directors, and Bogwang Temple in Gyeonggi Province which he attended. Examining the monk's bank account, prosecutors are looking into whether he received money from Byeon for covering up Shin's fake degrees.

Shin, in a close relationship with Byeon, was charged as his accomplice as she was able to take advantage of his power. She was also accused of fabricating academic credentials to get jobs, as well as embezzling part of the gallery's sponsorships.

The prosecution will keep questioning the gallery's director Park Moon-soon, who is allegedly involved in Shin's embezzlement. Shin claimed she did so following Park's orders and gave all the money to Park, while Park claimed Shin took part of it.

The investigation will also be expanded to the six billion won found at Park's home. Prosecutors are trying to ascertain whether it is embezzled corporate funds or part of a slush fund amassed by Park's husband, former Ssangyong Group chairman Kim Suk-won. Prosecutors have asked Kim, currently overseas, to return as soon as possible.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr