"Even a Korean?" Shocking Alleged Group Sexual Assault at Cornell University… Investigation Reopened After Florence Pugh Speaks Out

Local prosecutors have reopened an investigation into allegations that a female student was gang-raped by seven male students at Cornell University, a prestigious Ivy League institution in the United States.

According to Reuters and other media outlets, Matthew Van Houten, the District Attorney of Tompkins County, New York, issued a statement yesterday (September 28) local time, announcing that evidence regarding the seven students will be presented to a grand jury to determine whether to bring charges.

Unlike trial juries that determine a defendant's guilt or innocence, an American grand jury evaluates whether there is probable cause to formally charge based on the evidence presented by the prosecution.

The case came to light when a 20-year-old female Cornell student alleged that she was sexually assaulted by seven students at the campus fraternity building of Chi Phi in October 2024.

Currently, the real names of those pointed to as perpetrators are circulating on social media and in the Cornell student newspaper.

Among them, a student presumed to be of Korean descent with the last name Lee is reportedly included in the list.

The victimized female student filed a lawsuit on September 16, claiming that she was gang-raped while completely incapacitated due to alcohol and drugs provided by members of the fraternity.

The woman reported the incident to campus police about three weeks later, but prosecutors reportedly did not pursue criminal charges at the time.

Regarding why criminal charges were not filed back then, District Attorney Van Houten explained that in her initial statement submitted to investigative authorities, the victim did not claim she had been gang-raped or drugged.

The university stated that it conducted its own investigation and imposed disciplinary measures such as expulsion and suspension on some students, though it did not disclose the specific number of students disciplined.

In relation to this, Cornell University stated, "Claims that the university did not take substantive disciplinary action against those involved in the incident are not true."

After the incident first spread through U.S. social media, public criticism regarding the responses of the university and investigative authorities has grown exponentially.

Celebrities have also raised their voices one after another.

Actor Florence Pugh expressed her support for the victim on her social media, and actor Josh Gad and others strongly criticized Cornell's disciplinary actions as being far too lenient.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Lee Dain | Graphics by Lee Sumin | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.