2	designer drugs, china, professor, university, drugs

On how not to spend your days in the classroom (link includes video).

[Anchor]

A Chinese professor working at a university in Seoul has been caught by police making illegal drugs and attempting to sell them.

Investigators found the professor had manufactured the drugs in his own classroom.

Kang Jin-won reports.

[Reporter]

A university in Seoul.

32-year old Mr. Cha, a graduate of the chemistry department of a famous university in China, was hired by the university in 2008.

He was to conduct research on the interaction of light and chemical processes, known as photochemistry.

[Interview:anonymous university employee]

"It is true that he came from a well-known university. So he was given a special position. (So he was given that position to develop the university's standing?) Yes. Naturally, when someone takes that kind of position..."

But Mr. Cha, who spent a year in research and teaching, decided on the third to make and sell drugs. He did this because he needed money to pay the tuition fees for his Chinese girlfriend, who attends a well-known Korean university.

He was a special professor, but his monthly salary of just W1.7 million was less than that of a full professor.

[Interview:Mr. Cha, suspect in drug crime]

"It was a passing thought. I sincerely regret it."

Mr. Cha was able to blend the optimal amounts of the ingredients to create drugs designated as illegal designer drugs in 2008.

Using that method in his own classroom, he created 320 grams of GHB worth W64 million.

Because he used materials designated for academic use he avoided recording how they were being used.

Police arrested two other Chinese citizens for attempting to use the internet to purchase drugs from the Chinese Mr. Cha.

Also, because the methods of creating designer drugs are not difficult, investigators are continuing to look for other instances of chemistry experts engaged in similar acts.