It has emerged that Nam Kyung-joo (62), a pioneering musical star who has been active on Korean stages for four decades, was referred to prosecutors after a police investigation into allegations that he raped a woman by abusing his authority.
According to an MBN report on March 11, the Bangbae Police Station in Seoul sent Nam to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office last month on suspicion of coercive sexual intercourse by abuse of authority.
The incident allegedly took place late last year in Seoul’s Seocho District. The woman who claims she was victimized reportedly left the scene and called 112, after which police launched an investigation into Nam.
During police questioning, Nam reportedly strongly denied the allegations, saying no sexual assault had occurred.
Regarding the reports, Nam told some media outlets that “it is true that an investigation is underway,” but declined to comment on the specific allegations.
Nam has been a leading figure in South Korea’s musical theater scene since the 1980s, appearing in numerous productions. He currently teaches at the Graduate School of Performing Arts at Hongik University.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)