South Korean actor O Yeong-Su, known for his role in the Netflix hit Squid Game, has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a court in South Korea.
The 81-year-old was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017 while staying in a rural area for a theatre performance. The allegations, filed in 2022, claimed he hugged her and kissed her on the cheek without consent.
In 2024, Mr. O was initially found guilty and given an eight-month suspended prison sentence. On Tuesday, the Suwon District Court overturned the conviction, citing his completion of sexual violence prevention classes and raising questions about the accuracy of the alleged victim’s memory over time.
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The court said: “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 also noted Mr. O had apologised to the victim.
The alleged victim criticized the verdict, saying it would not “invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered,” according to women’s rights organization Womenlink, which condemned the ruling as “outraged by a ruling that once again conceals sexual violence in the theatre world.”
After the ruling, Mr. O expressed his thanks, telling local media he felt “gratitude to the court for its wise judgement.”
O Yeong-Su gained international recognition for his role in Squid Game and in 2022 became the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Series.