Probe Targets Patrons of Fake Professor
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Who's next?
People are paying attention to who else will be implicated in the widening scandal involving a former presidential secretary's misfeasance with his long-time romantic partner accused of forging her diplomas, with new findings being disclosed day by day.
Although it seems certain the former Cheong Wa Dae policy planner Byeon Yang-kyoon, 58, and former Dongguk University professor Shin Jeong-ah, 35, had close ties, speculations are that she may have been intimate with more figures in various fields.
Some say it develop into a full-blown sex scandal, as several nude photos of Shin were found at the house of a high-profile figure in the art field, according to the Munhwa Ilbo newspaper.
With regard to the pictures in which Shin appears naked in a casual manner, photo experts said they seem to have been taken for personal possession, not as art works.
Shin has formed intimate networks with high-profile figures in art and political circles, and people in the art fields say the pictures prove she has provided sex to such figures in exchange for their influence-peddling.
A prosecutor recently said, ``Nobody knows to who the investigation will be expanded if Shin's e-mails are disclosed. It is hard to forecast the effect if the so-called `Shin list' is found.''
The prosecution earlier confirmed Byeon and Shin's relations through more than 100 e-mails from Shin's computer, many of which were love letters.
Prosecutors also said they seized an item which proved their close relationship conclusively during a raid on Shin's studio apartment in central Seoul. According to SBS, it was a joint painting of each other made by the two. Investigators also reportedly seized an expensive necklace with which a credit card receipt was enclosed with Byeon's signature on it.
Byeon is suspected of peddling influence to help Shin get hired at the university in 2005 and appointed as director for the 2008 Gwangju Biennale last July and to organize company sponsorship of exhibitions at Sungkok Art Museum where Shin worked as a curator.
Shin moved to the studio apartment in Gwanghwamun in January, which is only 800 meters away from a serviced residence where Byeon has stayed since July last year.
And a new fact was found Thursday that Hong Ki-sam, former Dongguk University president suspected of having hired Shin under pressure from Byeon, rented a studio in the same apartment block as Shin's. He rented it in January, close to the time Shin moved.
Hong said he rented it for his daughter and he seldom used the house.
Hong told prosecutors that Byeon had recommended Shin for the professor position. It was said Hong pushed ahead with employing her despite opposition from other professors.
Hong and Byeon, both devoted Buddhists, have been friends since 2004 when they were co-elected as representatives of a Buddhist committee in the Jogye Order.
Shin was also believed to be a Buddhist, considering she grew up in Buddhist family. But it was found she was a Christian who used to visit a Seoul church three to four times per week and pay some 500,000 won for collection per month.
Shin, a credit defaulter under a court's debt workout program, registered with a fitness center in Westin Chosun Seoul hotel in April 2002, where a lifetime membership fee is 35 million won and monthly fee, two million won.
She was selected as the center's ``best member of the month'' in September 2006. To get the best member honor, the member should spend much more money than others for the hotel's other facilities, such as rooms, restaurant and coffee shop, according to the hotel staff.