Arrest Warrant Sought for Disgraced Curator
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The prosecution requested an arrest warrant for 35-year-old former assistant professor Shin Jeong-ah Tuesday on charges of fabricating academic credentials and interfering in the performance of duty.
Prosecutors will now focus on confirming other allegations against Shin, as well as investigating a former presidential policy planner Byeon Yang-kyoon's alleged influence-peddling for Shin, his long-time romantic partner.
According to the prosecution, Shin forged her diplomas that appeared to show she obtained a Ph.D. at Yale University, and was appointed as an assistant professor at Dongguk University and as a director for the 2008 Gwangju Biennale.
The university and the biennale foundation are currently suing her for the forgery and interfering in the performance of their duty.
Prosecutors suspect her ``sugar daddy'' Byeon of peddled influence to get her employment.
Shin could have asked a court to review the prosecution's warrant issuance request, but gave up doing so, according to prosecutors.
After arresting her, the prosecution will further investigate misappropriation and breach of trust allegations. She allegedly embezzled funds from Sungkok Art Museum, where she worked as a curator, and used the money for investing in stocks.
Shin may also face the additional charge of fraud as Shin allegedly applied for a debt workout program to a court with forged documents about her financial status. It was found later that the credit defaulter had over 500 million won in stocks.
Another allegation is being looked into that Byeon abused his power to have large companies provide sponsorship to art exhibitions Shin organized. Prosecutors are investigating whether those companies got favors from Byeon in exchange for the sponsorship.
The prosecution plans to summon Byeon as early as today, following the first questioning on Sunday, to quiz him on his alleged influence-peddling for Shin.
Late Monday evening, investigators raided the office and home of Buddhist monk Yeongbae, chief of Dongguk University's board of directors, and the office of the school's President Oh Young-kyo.
They seized documents about school management and finance to probe the allegations that the school hired Shin in September 2005 although it had been aware of her degree forgery and that Byeon helped the school receive a huge amount of government subsidies in exchange for Shin's employment.
Buddhist monk Yeongbae allegedly protected Shin at that time even though many professors suspected her educational background.
An investigation is under way whether the monk and former and incumbent presidents of the school were aware of Shin's fake academic credentials and attempted to cover this up when suspicions emerged.