[Exclusive]'Right to Know of the Parties'..Student Victim of South Gyeongju Sexual Assault Applies to View Trial Records

*This content was translated by AI.

Student A, who claimed to have suffered sexual assault by actor South Gyeongju, has applied to view the trial records related to South Gyeongju's case.

According to StarNews, on the 6th, A submitted an application through a lawyer to the court to view the trial records concerning the charge of South Gyeongju's sexual intercourse with a subordinate.

Previously, the Supreme Court decided in September 2025 to generally allow victims to access and copy litigation records in criminal trials, which had previously been permitted at the discretion of the trial court. The Court also decided to expand the protection of victims' rights in trials, including keeping victims' personal information confidential when victims file civil damages lawsuits against perpetrators.

Until now, in criminal trials, victims who were not parties to the case were often denied requests to access and copy litigation records at the discretion of the trial court. Regarding this, the Supreme Court explained, "By generally permitting requests from victims and others to access and copy litigation records when necessary for the relief of victims' rights, we will broaden the scope of permission and specifically regulate matters such as the application procedures for accessing and copying litigation records and the reasons for such applications, thereby protecting victims' rights and substantially guaranteeing their right to be heard in trial proceedings."

In addition, the personal information of victims who file civil damages lawsuits against perpetrators will now be protected. In particular, in criminal cases related to sexual crimes, when victims file civil damages lawsuits against perpetrators, the plaintiff's personal information, including name and address, was disclosed to the defendant perpetrator, leading to reluctance to file such lawsuits due to fears of retaliation.

The Supreme Court stated, "In cases where crime victims file civil damages lawsuits against perpetrators, or when victims do not wish to disclose their personal information to the opposing party in litigation due to concerns for their life or physical safety, protective measures can be taken to prevent the disclosure of personal information of litigation participants when accessing, copying, or serving litigation and enforcement records. This will strengthen the protection of crime victims' rights and interests."

A's application to view the records of this trial is interpreted as an attempt to observe and respond to the trial process as a party to the case.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 13 is scheduled to hold the first trial session on South Gyeongju's charge of sexual intercourse with a subordinate on June 12. Previously, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division 2 indicted South Gyeongju without detention on April 24, applying the charge of sexual intercourse with a subordinate.

According to police, South Gyeongju was transferred to the Prosecutors' Office in February on charges of sexually assaulting female student A using his social status and influence at a certain location in Seocho-gu, Seoul, in December 2025.

It is reported that A reported the incident to 112 immediately after it occurred. South Gyeongju denied the allegations during police investigation, but the police determined the allegations were credible and transferred the case to the Prosecutors' Office.

Subsequently, South Gyeongju's side requested the Prosecutors' Office to refer the case to criminal mediation in an attempt to reach a settlement, but it reportedly failed due to the victim's refusal.

South Gyeongju, who had been working alone without an agency until recently, has not yet issued an official statement and has been seen deleting his Instagram account and erasing all traces related to the incident. Immediately after the sexual assault allegations surfaced, Hongik University, where South Gyeongju was serving as a professor in the Department of Performing Arts, held a disciplinary committee and removed him from his position. South Gyeongju served as an associate professor in the Performing Arts and Musical Theater major of Hongik University's Department of Performing Arts until 2025, conducting classes, but was removed from his position just before the start of the current semester.

Born in 1964, South Gyeongju is 62 years old this year and is a veteran of the first generation of Korean musicals. After debuting in 1984 with the play "Porgy and Bess," he appeared in numerous musical works including "The Drowsy Chaperone," "West Side Story," "Les Misérables," "Grease," and "42nd Street."

South Gyeongju continued his activities in 2025, appearing in "Hidden Love" and "The Show! Silla-Gyeongju."

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*This content was translated by AI.