Police Break Fake Music Degree Ring

Prosecutors uncovered a plan to buy fake masters and doctoral degrees from Russian music colleges on behalf of 120 college professors, instructors, and symphony orchestra members, with the help of private Korean music institutions, according to the Seoul District Prosecutor’s Office yesterday..

Officials announced the arrest of Do Yeon-dan (51, female), the head of the Royal Music Institution in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for colluding with the president of a music college in Vladivostok, Russia to receive 2.5 billion won from about 120 Korean professors, instructors, and graduates at music colleges in exchange for advanced degree certificates.

Prosecutors also indicted five people, including Park, an assistant professor of “J” music college in Seoul who became a college professor using a fake doctoral degree purchased from Do, without detention. They also imposed fines ranging from seven to 10 million won on 16 people, including Ju, (61) a music professor at “E” university, who registered a fake doctoral degree with the Korea Research Foundation.

Tae-Hoon Lee jefflee@donga.com