- O Yeong-Su, 81, was acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a South Korean court
- Alleged incidents occurred in 2017; O was previously found guilty in 2024 and given a suspended sentence
- Court cited doubt over the victim’s memory and O’s completion of sexual violence classes in overturning the sentence
O Yeong-Su, 81, known for his role in Squid Game, has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a South Korean court.
The actor was originally charged in 2022 with allegedly sexually assaulting a woman twice, including hugging her and kissing her on the cheek without consent. He was found guilty in 2024 and sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended, but had vowed to appeal.
On Tuesday, the court overturned the sentence, noting that O had attended sexual violence classes and suggesting that the alleged victim’s memory may have been distorted over time due to the passage of years. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred in 2017 while O was in a rural area for a theatre performance.
The complaint was initially filed in 2021, briefly closed in April of that year, and later reopened at the victim’s request, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The Suwon District Court stated there was “doubt” over whether O committed the assault, emphasizing that the defendant must be given the benefit of the doubt when uncertainty exists. However, the court also acknowledged that it was possible the assault occurred, referencing O’s apology to the alleged victim.
The alleged victim condemned the ruling, stating it would not “invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered,” and vowed to continue speaking out through the women’s rights group Womenlink, which criticized the verdict as concealing sexual violence in the theatre world.
It remains unclear whether the prosecution will appeal the decision.
Following the ruling, O expressed gratitude, thanking the court for its “wise judgement.”
O Yeong-Su gained international fame through Squid Game, the Netflix dystopian thriller. In 2022, he became the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a series for his role in the show’s first season.
