Summoning of Roh’s Ex-Aide Imminent
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The prosecution’s summons of a former presidential policy planner is imminent over his alleged patronage of his long-time romantic partner accused of diploma fabrication.
The “sugar daddy” Byeon Yang-kyoon, 58, former top presidential secretary and minister of planning and budget, is likely to face three to four criminal charges if the allegations involving him and the 35-year-old former Dongguk University assistant professor Shin Jeong-ah are confirmed.
A prosecutor at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office said Friday prosecutors are considering summoning Byeon soon, but have so far been unable to search his home and office.
They had earlier requested a search warrant for both, only to have a court reject them. A second request is to be submitted shortly.
Prosecutors say investigators have already secured sufficient evidence to charge Byeon without an additional search. “But we need to check his computer at his Cheong Wa Dae office.
As it may contain confidential information, we are talking about the matter with the presidential office,” the prosecutor said. Reviewing Byeon’s e-mails is essential for probing his alleged influence-peddling for Shin, as his close relationship with her was uncovered through e-mails left on Shin’s computer, according to the prosecution.
Byeon is suspected of abusing his power to get Shin appointed as a professor at the Dongguk University and as a director for the 2008 Gwangju Biennale, and to help her obtain corporate sponsorship for exhibitions at Sungkok Art Museum where she worked as a curator.
He also allegedly purchased artwork with taxpayers’ money via Shin at high prices in 2005 when he was planning and budget minister, and had other government agencies buy similar pieces through Shin.
The prosecution also suspects Byeon exercised influence to get the university 16.5 billion won in government subsidies around September 2005 when Shin was hired at the school in exchange for her employment.