Musical actor Nam Kyung-joo, who has been forwarded to the prosecution on rape charges, is drawing attention for his past experience in the 'Samcheong Education Camp'.
On October 12, online communities have been revisiting Nam Kyung-joo's story from the April 2009 episode of KBS2's 'Park Joong-hoon Show, Korea's Sunday Night', where he shared his experience in the Samcheong Education Camp.
During the broadcast, Nam Kyung-joo confessed, "Schools were required to send two students who were difficult to manage. I ended up at the police station while trying to stop a senior from hitting a junior, and was subsequently sent to the Samcheong Education Camp." He added, "The other student involved dropped out and didn't go, but I felt I needed to continue my education, so I went to the camp."
He recalled, "I was there for quite a while, and it was harsh. We did military-style drills every day. It was a time when many absurd things happened. I sometimes think it was just bad timing for me to be born in that era." He further reflected, "In the end, going to the Samcheong Education Camp had a positive impact on me, but I still wonder if it was necessary."
His brother, musical actor Nam Kyung-eup, also mentioned in a 2010 press conference for the play 'Rain Man', "My brother was quite a troublemaker. He even went to the Samcheong Education Camp as a high school senior. I attended the same high school and was the head of the religious department, so I got scolded every day because of him."
Meanwhile, Nam Kyung-joo is currently under investigation without detention on rape charges. He is accused of raping victim A in Seoul last year. It is reported that A escaped the scene and called 112. The police found the allegations credible and forwarded the case to the prosecution.
Nam Kyung-joo debuted in 1982 with the play 'Woyzeck' and has been active in musical theater ever since. He is currently a lecturer at Hongik University's Graduate School of Performing Arts.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr