[Editorial] Where Did Shin Jeong-ah’s “Power” Come from?

There is continuous suspicion behind the scandal that Shin Jeong-ah fabricated her academic credentials in order to be employed as a professor at Dongguk University and as the art director of the Gwangju Biennale.

While there were reports that presidential secretary for policy planning Byeon Yang-gyun appeased Monk Jangyun, a former member of Dongguk University’s board of directors, to close his eyes to the scandal, another suspicion arose that Gwangju mayor Park Gwang-tae was involved in the appointment of the Biennale director.

Grand National Party chairman Kang Jae-seop mentioned that a chief presidential secretary and a presidential contender for the ruling party were also behind this scandal.

In summary, there must be power involved in Shin scandal.

Under the circumstances, the Office of Public Relations complained that there is a movement that wants to implicate someone in power. But according to a minute of the board of directors meeting of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, it is true that there are some suspicious aspects in the appointment of Shin as the art director of the event.

Even before the board of directors meeting opened, then board director Han Kap-su already informed Shin that she was designated as the art director. An inspector of the board of directors showed his dissatisfaction over the appointment saying, “I cannot understand why they put me in this position.” A member of the board of directors pointed out the lack of verification of Shin’s diplomas. It means she was designated for the position without any verification.

It is said then board director Han judged that she was the most appropriate person for the position after just one meeting with her. Is it possible that Mr. Han and Mayor Park decided to appoint her as art director just because they believed that she got a doctoral degree from Yale University and that she was a curator in a famous museum?

Now there are voices that people in power was deeply involved in her appointment as a professor and art director. Byeon has kept silent for the last one week after recent news reports that he tried to cover the fake degree scandal. Even though Han started to defend himself, his keeping silent over the past week resulted in amplifying the suspicions of his involvement. Are there more people in power behind this scandal? There may be a certain movement behind the curtain in order to hide a core figure in power. Monk Jangyun and Hong Ki-sam, a former president of Dongguk University, are avoiding any direct explanations. The prosecution that is now investigating the Shin scandal after an indictment by Dongguk University and Gwangju Biennale Foundation should not exclude the possibility that powerful figures could be involved in the scandal.