O Yeong-Su, the 81-year-old actor who soared to global fame with his role in Netflix’s Squid Game, has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a South Korean court.
O was originally charged in 2022, accused of sexually assaulting a woman on two occasions in 2017. The allegations stated that he “hugged the woman and kissed her on the cheek against her will” while in a rural area for a theater performance. The case led to a conviction in 2024, where O was found guilty and given an eight-month suspended prison sentence.
Following the verdict, O maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal. The case’s legal timeline began when the alleged victim filed a complaint in 2021. Though it was initially closed in April of that year, it was later reopened by prosecutors “at the request of the victim,” according to Korean news agency Yonhap.
A South Korean court overturned O’s conviction this week, citing that he had completed classes on sexual violence and raising “doubt” over the reliability of the victim’s memory due to the time elapsed: “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 statement from the Suwon District Court continued, “There is doubt as to whether Mr O had committed the assault.” However, the judgement acknowledged complexity in the case, stating it was “possible Mr O had committed assault, as he had apologised to the victim”.
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Shortly after the ruling, O Yeong-Su shared his response with local media, saying he had “gratitude to the court for its wise judgement.” Meanwhile, the alleged victim criticized the outcome, insisting it would not “invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered.”
She stated, “Despite today’s ruling, I will continue to speak the truth to the very end,” through a message distributed by women’s rights organization Womenlink. Womenlink also released a critical statement, saying they were “outraged by a ruling that once again conceals sexual violence in the theatre world”. It is currently unclear whether the prosecution will appeal the acquittal.
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O Yeong-Su won international acclaim for his role in Squid Game, in which desperate contestants compete in deadly games based on Korean children’s activities. In 2022, he became the first Korean actor to win a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in a series, following his breakout performance in the Netflix thriller.
