Nam Kyung-ju, South Korean stage veteran, charged with rape by force

A veteran South Korean stage star, Nam Kyung-ju, has been forwarded to prosecutors on charges of rape by force after a police investigation into a sexual assault allegation, police said.

The alleged incident is said to have occurred in Seoul late last year, when a woman reported to emergency services after leaving the scene. The case has been described in local reports as involving Nam Kyung-ju and a woman identified as A.

Nam Kyung-ju reportedly denied the accusations during police questioning, according to investigators.

Police said they deemed the allegations credible and transferred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office for indictment on a charge of rape by force.

Born in 1984, Nam Kyung-ju began his acting career as a theatre actor in 1984 and has since led major productions such as Chicago and Mamma Mia, building a career spanning more than four decades. He also serves as an associate professor at Hongik University’s College of Performing Arts.

The case arrives amid ongoing attention in South Korea to sexual misconduct within the entertainment industry and to policies aimed at protecting performers and audiences. For international audiences, the affair highlights the global reach of Korean musical theatre and the potential implications for cross-border collaboration between Korean and American productions, as well as for audiences who follow internationally staged works.

Officials have not issued a further official statement on social media, as Nam Kyung-ju reportedly deleted his accounts. The investigation and subsequent prosecutorial process will determine the next steps in the case.