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The missing link

Published: 30 Oct. 2007, 22:38

Something is still fishy even though the prosecutors have wrapped up their investigation of Byeon Yang-kyoon and Shin Jeong-ah and indicted the duo yesterday. The agency sees the case as a misappropriate use of power and admits they couldn’t find anything than implicates anyone higher than Byeon.
However, this is not easy to accept. Byeon, despite the risk, pressured Dongkuk University and its officials to hire Shin Jeong-ah, who was later found to be unqualified. He ordered that tax money be given to a temple owned by the university’s chief director.
Shin also enjoyed strong support from a Blue House official when she wanted to become the director of the Gwangju Biennale. While Shin was working as a curator at Sungkok Art Museum, Byeon asked a number of companies to give money to the museum.
These acts of misconduct wouldn’t be easy, and Byeon must have had some higher motivation than to continue the affair with Shin.
Talk among the people is that there is a “body,” and names are being mentioned. Byeon is considered a scapegoat. More doubts are rising. During the early phase of the case, the Blue House spokesman defended Byeon, and the First Lady invited Byeon’s wife for lunch. Just these two acts are enough for the general public to raise questions.
By accident, prosecutors uncovered a slush fund kept by Kim Suk-won, the former honorary chairman of SsangYong Group. Kim confessed that he had given Byeon 300 million won ($329,100).
Prosecutors are eager to prove that the money was used as a lubricant to facilitate Kim’s pardon. If they are to do so, they must clarify whether there is a third party involved in this case.