O Yeong-Su, the 81-year-old star of the global sensation Squid Game, has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a South Korean court. The actor was initially charged in 2022, accused of hugging and kissing a woman against her will.
In 2024, he was found guilty and received an eight-month suspended sentence, but he appealed the verdict. Recently, a court overturned this conviction, citing the actor's completion of sexual violence education and raising doubts over the victim's fragmented recollection of events due to the time elapsed since the incidents occurred.
The alleged assaults reportedly took place in 2017 during a stay in a rural area for a theatre performance. The victim filed her initial complaint in 2021, but the case was temporarily closed shortly after. It was reopened following the victim's appeal to the prosecution.
The Suwon District Court articulated its uncertainty regarding the assault, noting the possibility of the victim's memories being distorted over time. However, it also acknowledged that Mr. O had previously apologized, which adds complexity to the resolution.
The victim expressed her disappointment regarding the ruling, asserting that it would not erase her experiences or invalidate her truth. She stated through Women's rights organization Womenlink that she would persist in speaking out. The organization condemned the court's decision, highlighting ongoing issues surrounding sexual violence in the theatre community.
The path forward for the prosecution remains unclear as they consider potential appeals. Responding to the court's decision, Mr. O expressed gratitude for the ruling but has faced scrutiny throughout the legal proceedings.
O Yeong-Su garnered international acclaim for his role in Squid Game, even making history by being the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actor, marking a significant achievement in his career as a performer in the Netflix series.
