Senior High Court Judge Han Yang-seok at Seoul Central District Court said on Sunday he sentenced English instructor "J", a 30-year-old Canadian, to six months in prison for using the bogus degree.

The judge said, "Considering the situation in Korea where significant part of foreign language education involves private education, the quality of the instructor is as important as that of regular school teachers. Without any proper qualifications, using a forged degree for employment is seen as an act disruptive to Korea's private education system. Strong punishment is called for."

J, who was unable to get a visa because he had not graduated from college, forged a bachelor's degree and transcript. He was arrested after submitting the bogus documents to a private English institute in Seoul.

(englishnews@chosun.com )