ENTERTAINMENT
Musical Actor Nam Kyung-joo's Past in 'Samcheong Education Camp' Resurfaces Amidst Rape Allegations
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
