O Yeong-Su Cleared of Sexual Misconduct Charges in South Korea

Post by : Raina Nasser

Renowned South Korean actor O Yeong-Su, celebrated for his performance in Netflix's Squid Game, has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a South Korean court. The 81-year-old faced accusations of assaulting a woman twice in 2017.

Previously convicted in 2024 and handed an eight-month suspended sentence, O Yeong-Su appealed the ruling. On Tuesday, the Suwon District Court reversed the conviction, noting his completion of sexual violence education and questioning the reliability of the alleged victim's memory.

The incidents in question occurred during O Yeong-Su's stay in a rural area for a theater performance. The victim initially lodged a complaint in 2021, which was subsequently closed, but the prosecution reopened the case upon her request.

The court's decision highlighted uncertainty regarding the assault's occurrence, emphasizing that in such instances, the defendant should receive the benefit of the doubt. Nonetheless, they recognized that O Yeong-Su had apologized to the victim, suggesting a possibility of misconduct.

The alleged victim expressed her discontent with the verdict, stating it wouldn't change the truth or diminish her suffering, and vowed to persist in her advocacy. Women's rights organization Womenlink denounced the ruling as "outrageous," claiming it obscures sexual violence within the theater sector.

In light of the ruling, O Yeong-Su expressed his appreciation for the court's "wise judgement."

Famed for his role in Squid Game, O Yeong-Su became a global sensation, portraying contestants in lethal versions of children's games. In 2022, he made history as the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a series, earning accolades for his role during the show's inaugural season.