Squid Game actor, O Yeong-Su, has been convicted of sexual misconduct by a court in South Korea and handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence. The 79-year-old actor was charged with sexually assaulting a woman on two separate occasions. The incidents occurred five years ago while O Yeong-Su was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance in 2017.
The court found that O had hugged the woman and kissed her on the cheek without her consent. Despite his denial of the allegations, the judge ruled in favor of the victim, stating that her accounts were consistent and credible.
In addition to the prison sentence, O Yeong-Su has been ordered to attend classes on sexual violence. The actor has expressed his intention to appeal the verdict within seven days.
O Yeong-Su gained international fame for his role in the popular series Squid Game, where he portrayed the character Oh Il-nam. The show became a massive hit on Netflix, attracting over 100 million viewers worldwide shortly after its release in 2021.
Following the controversy surrounding the sexual misconduct allegations, O Yeong-Su was dropped from an upcoming film project in South Korea. Womenlink, a prominent feminist organization, praised the court’s decision and called on the actor to acknowledge his mistake and apologize to the victim.
The case has sparked discussions about sexual violence in the entertainment industry and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. As O Yeong-Su prepares to appeal the verdict, the outcome remains uncertain, but the court’s ruling sends a strong message against misconduct and abuse of power.
