O Yeong-Su, the 81-year-old actor who gained international fame from 'Squid Game,' has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges following a ruling by the Suwon District Court in South Korea. The actor had faced allegations of inappropriately hugging and kissing a woman in 2017.
Initially charged in 2022, O Yeong-Su was found guilty and sentenced to an eight-month suspended prison term in 2024. However, he appealed this verdict.
The recent court decision overturned his conviction, noting that the actor had undergone educational programs related to sexual violence and questioned the reliability of the victim’s memory due to the events occurring several years prior. The court stated that there was reasonable doubt about whether O Yeong-Su committed the alleged acts.
Despite his acquittal, tension remains surrounding the verdict. The alleged victim, who filed her complaint in 2021, expressed her discontent with the ruling, asserting it does not change her experience or the truth of what occurred. She emphasized her intention to continue speaking out.
Activists, including the women's rights group Womenlink, condemned the ruling, calling it a setback in efforts to address sexual violence issues in the arts sector.
In light of the verdict, O Yeong-Su expressed gratitude to the court, reinforcing his innocence. He remains an influential figure in the entertainment industry, having made history as the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe for his role in 'Squid Game.'
