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Cha In-pyo, Shin Ae-ra respond to ‘fake degree’ rumors

By Yim Hyun-su

  • Published : Oct 14, 2018 - 16:12
  • Updated : Oct 14, 2018 - 16:12

Celebrity couple Cha In-pyo and Shin Ae-ra have responded to speculation over the legitimacy of Shin’s doctoral program after viewers accused the actress of pursuing a “fake” degree.

Shin, who appeared on the variety show “All the Butlers” last month, said she was pursuing a doctorate at His University in California.

Shortly after the show aired, however, viewers took her to task over the university’s reputation and criticized Shin over the fact that the language of instruction is Korean, saying Shin had implied it was English.

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A photo of Shin Ae-ra on the official website of His University (His University)
On Saturday, her husband issued a statement in which he said His University had been recognized by California’s state government and was now awaiting accreditation from the federal government.

He also said that it had never been Shin’s intention to imply that she was fluent in English, and that a comment she’d made about not being able to speak English well had been edited out of the show.

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Cha In-pyo (Herald DB)
Cha also denied rumors that Shin was planning to become a professor in South Korea after completing her studies, saying she wanted to pursue her education in her later years as she’d neglected academic life when she was younger. He also said the family planned to return to Korea once she graduated.

His University opened in 2004 with a vision based on a fundamental knowledge of Biblical principles, according to the school’s homepage.

By Yim Hyun-su (hyunsu@heraldcorp.com)