South Korean Artists in Brush with Law

SEOUL (Agence France-Presse)—Police have sought arrest warrants for nine artists or officials suspected of fixing the winners in one of South Korea's most prestigious art contests, officials said Thursday.

The nine from the Korean Fine Arts Association are suspected of taking kickbacks from contestants, or of painting pictures which were submitted in someone else's name.

They included the association's former chief, identified only as Ha, who allegedly took 10 million won ($10,800) from each of at least four contestants in return for securing them prizes at the Grand Art Exhibition last year.

The exhibition dates back to 1949. The formerly state-managed contest has been under the association's control since 1989.

Ha and others allegedly bribed or used their influence with judges in favor of artists who had themselves bribed officials.

An investigator with the National Police Agency said they applied for arrest warrants Wednesday and state prosecutors were preparing to ask a court to issue them.

"The art circle seems quite corrupt," he told the AFP on condition of anonymity.

The investigator said more than 90 percent of the artworks reached the first stage of the screening of exhibits as a result of bribery.

Days before the contest, jurors were asked to stay at a hotel and memorize photographs of selected works for which they should vote, he added.

Two well-known artists allegedly took some 10 to 15 million won each from contest participants to act as "ghost painters."