Musical Actor Nam Kyungjoo Indicted Without Detention on Charges of Sexually Assaulting Student... Criminal Mediation Fails

Musical actor Nam Kyungjoo has been put on trial on charges of sexually assaulting his student. Nam's side has denied the allegations, and the criminal mediation process attempted during the prosecution stage did not proceed because the victim refused to participate.

Musical actor Nam Kyungjoo. Photo by Yonhap News

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According to Yonhap News on April 28, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office's 2nd Division for Investigation of Crimes Against Women and Children (headed by Chief Prosecutor Park Jina) indicted Nam without detention on April 24, applying the charge of "sexual intercourse by abuse of supervisory authority." This charge is applied to those who, due to a relationship such as work or employment, use their position or authority to have sexual intercourse with someone under their protection or supervision. Under the Criminal Act, this crime is punishable by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Nam is accused of sexually assaulting his female student, referred to as Ms. A, at a location in Seocho-gu, Seoul, in December of last year. The victim reportedly left the scene immediately after the incident and called 112 to report it. While Nam strongly denied the allegations during the police investigation, police concluded the charges were substantiated and referred the case to prosecutors in February.

Nam's side requested that the case be referred for criminal mediation at the prosecution stage in an attempt to reach a settlement with the victim, but the mediation did not take place as the victim expressed no intention to settle.

Nam began his career in 1982 with the play "Woyzeck" and has appeared in numerous musicals such as "Les Mis?rables," "Chicago," and "Mamma Mia," establishing himself as a first-generation musical actor in Korea. He began teaching in 2014 and was appointed as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Performing Arts at Hongik University in 2018. After news of the incident became public, Hongik University reportedly removed Nam from his position as associate professor in the Department of Performing Arts.

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