South Korean actor Jo Min-ki found dead after string of sexual assault accusations
The 52-year-old, who was accused of molesting at least eight women, was found dead in his home in Seoul after what police suspect was a suicide
A South Korean actor accused of sexual assault was found dead on Friday, reports said, as a wave of #MeToo accusations swept the country’s still male-dominated society.
Jo Min-ki, who had been accused of sexually molesting at least eight women, was found dead at his home in Seoul, Yonhap news agency cited police as saying, adding suicide was suspected.
Most of his victims were drama students at a provincial university where he taught, it said, adding the 52-year-old had been forced out of his professorship over the scandal, leaving his career in tatters.
His roles were mainly in television series, but he also appeared in a number of films.
The #MeToo movement has gradually gained ground in South Korea, which remains socially conservative and patriarchal in many respects despite its economic and technological advances.
Allegations of abuse have been made against prominent men in fields ranging from politics to the arts.
Earlier this week, provincial governor and former presidential contender Ahn Hee-jung resigned after an aide accused him of multiple rapes.