It has been confirmed that more than 110 Chinese language trainees transferred into universities in Korea using forged U.S. university diplomas.
According to Honam University on the 2nd, the Ministry of Justice immigration office searched the university headquarters and the office in charge of international exchanges in January. Authorities believe the U.S. university diplomas submitted during the students' transfer and visa issuance process were forged.
They graduated from high schools in China and entered Korea in March last year as language trainees. While learning Korean at domestic language institutes, they submitted U.S. university diplomas in August that year and transferred to Honam University. At Honam University, international students with degrees from overseas universities can receive a diploma in one to two years after transferring if they participate in international exchange programs.
However, the U.S. universities that issued the diplomas they submitted were found to have had their accreditation revoked in the mid-to-late 2000s or to have never received official accreditation. The scale is too large to view as a simple mistake, so authorities have launched a compulsory investigation.
Most of the international students returned to China in December last year, and authorities forcibly deported five students who had been staying in Korea.
The university said, "We did not know the international students submitted false academic credentials," and noted, "All international students staying in China have been placed on leave, and we informed them that they will be subject to forced deportation upon entry."