Shin Exploited Relations With Rohs Former Aide
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Suspicions are mounting that a 35-year-old degree scammer took full advantage of her long-time romantic partner's personal connections with many high-ranking government officials and other dignitaries when she became a Dongguk University assistant professor and art curator with her alleged fake diplomas.
The suspicions arose after the prosecution's investigation showed that Shin Jeong-ah had a long term intimate relationship with Byeon Yang-kyoon, President Roh Moo-hyun's former chief secretary of policy planning.
Byeon's key connections in the scandal include Hong Ki-sam, former president of the university, Han Gap-soo, the former head of the directors for the Gwangju Biennale, and Oh Young-gyo, current president of the university.
Byeon and Hong's relationship began through a mutual Buddhist background as they first met in 2004 when they were elected as co-representatives of a committee of Buddhists in the Jogye Order, the nation's largest Buddhist group.
Hong is suspected of having hired Shin and attempted to cover up the scandal regarding Shin's forged diplomas.
Hong testified that Byeon had recommended Shin for the professor position when he was the president of the university, the prosecution revealed Tuesday.
When Byeon recommend Shin, he was the minister of planning and budget, who was responsible for university budgets.
As Byeon is a director of the Cheong Wa Dae Buddhist association, he also had a huge influence in Buddhist circles and the university, which is run by a Buddhist foundation.
Byeon's relationship with Han originated in 1992 when the two worked at the Economic Planning Board.
Han picked Shin as an art director of the biennale despite disapproval from the director selection committee, due to the influence of Byeon.
Byeon met Oh when they worked at the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs. Oh is a senior of Byeon, both of whom passed the government administration official test.
Oh denied all the allegations that Byeon used his connection with him to cover up Shin's forged academic records.