Seoul, Nov 13 (UNI) A South Korean appeals court has overturned the sexual misconduct conviction of Squid Game actor O Yeong-su, clearing him of charges that he inappropriately hugged and kissed a woman during a theatre tour in 2017.
According to Deadline, citing a Korean news agency, the Suwon District Court acquitted the 81-year-old actor, ruling that while there was suspicion of harassment, inconsistencies and memory lapses in the victim’s testimony created reasonable doubt.
The judges emphasized that when such doubts exist, the rights of the accused must be protected.
The woman reportedly underwent counseling for sexual violence about six months after the alleged incident, and O had previously apologized to her at her request.
Earlier, the Seongnam branch of the Suwon district court had sentenced O to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to attend a 40-hour sexual offender treatment programme.
O Yeong-su maintained his innocence, stating he only “held (the woman’s) hand to guide her around a lake,” adding, “I apologized because she said she wouldn’t make a fuss about it, but that doesn’t mean I admit the charges.”
He rose to global fame for his portrayal of Oh Il-nam, or “Player 001,” in Netflix’s Squid Game. His performance earned him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, the first for a Korean actor, and an Emmy nomination.
