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A police investigation has revealed that many winners of the Grand Art Exhibition of Korea, the country's largest art contest, were chosen through bribery and corruption.
The shocking investigation involves 36 officials with the Korea Fine Arts Association (KFA), the country's leading arts organization, 20 art professor judges, and other influential organizations and individuals.
Police on Wednesday asked for arrest warrants for nine people including Mr. Ha, the former director general of the KFA. Ha is accused of awarding prizes at the 25th Grand Art in 2006 in return for bribes from applicants and acquaintances. Forty-nine others including judges, KFA officials, and artists were booked without detention.
Police said that Ha took W10 million (US$1=W924) from a person named Lee in April 28, 2006, and pressured judges to name Lee a winner. Similar irregularities were alleged for three others prizes.
Of the 113 art works that received special prizes in the scholastic painting category last year, police said 27 won because of bribes.
Police are expanding their investigation to look for corruption in other sections of the art show, including Korean and western painting, handicrafts, and calligraphy.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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