hankyoreh

South Korea's top prosecutor pledged Wednesday to thoroughly investigate an alleged fake degree case that has erupted into a full-blown scandal involving a female ex-professor and a former top secretary of President Roh Moo-hyun.

"I will make sure not a single trace of ambiguity is left behind," said Prosecutor-general Choung Sang-myoung, who has ordered his investigators to probe the suspicious link between Shin Jeong-ah, former art professor of Seoul's Dongguk University, and Byeon Yang-kyoon, formerly chief presidential secretary for national policy.

Shin, who is suspected of faking her Yale University degree and of exploiting her allegedly intimate relationship with Byeon to win prominent art jobs here, was released on her own recognizance Tuesday night, after the court refused to grant the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant, citing a minimal flight risk.

Shin had fled to the United States in mid-July when local media alleged both her doctor's and master's degrees from the United States were forged and used to win a professorship at Dongguk University.

But the case erupted into a sensational scandal after allegations surfaced that Shin had used her personal ties to Byeon to advance her career, which peaked when she co-headed the Gwangju Biennale, the country's largest exhibition drawing hundreds of contemporary artists worldwide.

Byeon, who is suspected of influencing university and exhibition officials so that Shin could land top jobs, was re-summoned by the prosecution early Wednesday, with investigators suggesting he helped Shin win generous corporate sponsorships for her projects as a curator at Seoul's Sungkok Art Museum.

The presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said Wednesday that Byeon was found to have pressured the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs to award a special state subsidy of 1 billion won (US$1.07 million) in May to the Heungdeok Temple in North Gyeongsang Province, which is run by Buddhist monk Youngbae, concurrently chairman of the board of Dongguk University.

Youngbae is now under investigation for having paid large sums of money to Shin for unknown reasons. Under current law, the Heungdeok Temple, which doesn't own any state cultural assets, is not eligible for state subsidies.

"A Cheong Wa Dae official has been questioned by the prosecution over the special subsidy extended to the Heungdeok Temple. He gave a testimony to the effect that Byeon requested the government administration ministry to award the 1 billion won subsidy to the temple in May while serving as chief presidential secretary," said presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon.

"A possible illegality of Byeon's request would be determined by the prosecution. Cheong Wa Dae will fully cooperate with the probe."

Prosecutors also said they have evidence indicating that Shin embezzled part of the financial assistance given to the museum and did not pay artists who took part in her art projects.

"We will again request an arrest warrant for Shin later this week, after we reinforce the warrant with further investigations into embezzlement charges against her," said prosecutor Lee Kwi-nam of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul.

Without directly criticizing the court for rejecting the arrest warrant, Choung expressed frustration that the investigation could face unexpected difficulty, but was still hopeful the probe would solve the case.

"As far as I know, the public is yearning to know the truth behind this case. The prosecution has done its best and will continue to do so," said Choung.

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap)