O Yeong-Su, the acclaimed 81-year-old star of the Netflix series 'Squid Game,' has been acquitted of sexual misconduct by a South Korean court.
Initially charged in 2022 with allegations of hugging and kissing a woman without consent, Mr. O was found guilty in 2024 and received an eight-month suspended sentence. However, he appealed the verdict, asserting his innocence.
On Tuesday, the court overturned his previous conviction, citing that Mr. O's participation in sexual violence awareness programs and the substantial time elapsed since the alleged incidents could have impaired the victim's recollection of events.
While the court indicated reasonable doubt regarding the accusations, they acknowledged Mr. O's apology towards the victim, which raised questions about his culpability.
The alleged assaults reportedly took place in 2017 during a theatrical performance in a rural area, with the victim filing a complaint in 2021 that was initially closed before being reopened.
Post-verdict, the alleged victim expressed her disappointment in the ruling, emphasizing that it does not diminish her experience and reaffirming her commitment to share her truth, with support from women's rights organization Womenlink, who criticized the court's decision.
O Yeong-Su, who gained international fame for his role in 'Squid Game,' made history in 2022 by being the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a series.
