Squid Game actor O Yeong-Su has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges in South Korea.
The 81-year-old actor was charged in 2022 after allegations surfaced that he had sexually assaulted a woman on two separate occasions, specifically by allegedly hugging and kissing her on the cheek without her consent, in 2017 during a theater performance in a rural area. However, the victim filed a complaint in 2021, and the case was initially closed but later reopened at her request. O Yeong-Su was found guilty and sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended in 2024.
The Suwon District Court acquitted Squid Game actor O Yeong-Su of sexual misconduct charges, acknowledging suspicion of harassment due to the victim’s counseling and his apology, but citing potential memory distortion from the 2017 incident to the 2021 complaint, a lack of definitive evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, and O Yeong-Su’s claim that his apology did not admit guilt
“There is a possibility that the victim’s memory has been distorted over time, and when there is doubt… the defendant must be given the benefit of the doubt.”
The alleged victim expressed disappointment and vowed to continue speaking.
“Despite today’s ruling, I will continue to speak the truth to the very end. It would not invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered.”
After the court ruling, O Yeong-Su expressed gratitude to the court for its “wise judgment” when speaking to media outlets.
The actor rose to international fame after starring in the hit Netflix series Squid Game, where his cunning yet meek demeanour captivated audiences, generating internet memes around the world.
In the show, contestants play deadly versions of traditional children’s games. O Yeong-Su’s performance earned him a historic win in 2022 as the first South Korean actor to take home a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Series.