Assistant Professor Shin Jeong-ah had used the fax, which appeared to have been sent from Yale University to Dongguk University, to confirm that she graduated with a doctoral degree in art.

However, in response to an e-mail inquiry by the Chosun Ilbo, Gila Reinstein at Yale University's Office of Public Affairs said, "The document has a different form from that of Yale University's official certificate. The document is a fake."

She said, "I couldn't contact Pamela Schirmeister, associate dean of Yale Graduate School, whose signature was on the faxed document. However her assistant said Prof. Schirmeister had never signed her name to such a document."

Shin was appointed professor at Dongguk University and the art director of the Gwangju Biennale partly on the strength of the fax. It now appears the document may have been forged in Korea.

Shin was contacted earlier in Paris, France, but it is unclear where she is now. The biennale foundation has withdrawn her appointment.

(englishnews@chosun.com )