South Korea is currently abuzz over a sexual assault case from 20 years ago, the 'Miryang Sexual Assault Case' of 2004. 

The case occurred in the city of Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, where 44 male high school students raped and assaulted a 14-year old, female middle school student over the course of 1-year. These male students from several high schools in the Miryang area formed a "coalition" and "passed around" the victim, gang raping the victim numerous times. The assailants also filmed the victim and threatened to spread the footage if she tried to go to the police. 

However, ultimately, none of the 44 assailants were criminally charged after the police investigation and trial, due to the fact that the assailants were "minors with no prior crimes committed." Most of the assailants were simply sentenced to volunteer service or sent to youth detention centers, meaning that all of the assailants walked away from the case with a clean criminal record. The court ruling from the time also indicated that "the degree of rape was not severe" and "some of the young men may have acted impulsively out of sexual curiosity or peer pressure", as well as that "these young men have careers or education plans". 

Then, recently on June 1 KST, one "cyber wrecker" YouTube channel began exposing the identities of the 44 assailants from the 'Miryang Sexual Assault Case'. 

On the first day, the identity of 'A' was revealed alongside his SNS account. According to the cyber wrecker, 'A' worked at a famous restaurant owned by his relative. A photo of him posing with food entrepreneur Baek Jong Won from his Instagram was then quickly spread online, angering many netizens.

On the second day, the identity of 'B' was revealed. Many were angered once again after learning that 'B' worked at 'Volvo Korea'. Both 'A' and 'B' were married with children and living ordinary lives.

On the third day, the identity of 'C' was revealed, a close friend of 'B'. 'C' was also working at a "big name company" and was married with a daughter. 

Since the identities of the three individuals were revealed, the workplaces of all three individuals have made statements online confirming that 'A', B', and 'C' were fired from their jobs. The restaurant where 'A' worked has not opened its doors since the incident. 

The "cyber wrecker" claims that they intend on exposing the identities of all 44 assailants from the 'Miryang Case' one by one. However, since the issue has made major headlines, representatives of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center (KSVRC) have stepped forward to claim that the YouTuber "did not ask for permission from the victim's family" before publicizing this information.

(A COLLAGED PHOTO OF INDIVIDUALS SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED IN THE 'MIRYANG CASE' IS QUICKLY SPREADING ONLINE)

Now, Korean netizens are divided on the ethical ramifications of this case and its most recent developments. 

Some wish to see the identities of all 44 assailants from the 'Miryang Case' publicly exposed online. They believe that the assailants "deserve" to be "served justice" and should not go on living in society as if they did nothing wrong.

Others, however, raised concerns over this issue inflicting damages on the victim and her family once again. Some felt that the victim "has the right to be forgotten" and asked that the cyber wrecker properly acquire consent from the victim's family before continuing to stir up controversy. 

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