Squid Game star O Yeong-Su has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a court in South Korea.
The 81-year-old was charged in 2022 with sexually assaulting a woman twice, with accusations claiming that he hugged and kissed the woman on the cheek without consent.
Initially found guilty in 2024 and receiving an eight-month suspended prison sentence, Mr. O stated he would appeal the verdict.
On Tuesday, the court overturned this conviction, indicating that O had undertaken classes on sexual violence and questioned the reliability of the alleged victim's memory due to the time elapsed since the incident.
The alleged assaults were reported to have occurred in 2017 while Mr. O was in a rural area for a theater performance. A complaint was first filed in 2021 but closed shortly thereafter, until a reopening of the investigation was instigated by the victim's legal request, according to the Yonhap agency.
The Suwon District Court expressed uncertainty regarding the occurrence of the alleged assault, citing that doubts necessitate favoring the defendant. However, they acknowledged that it was possible Mr. O had assaulted the victim, as he had previously issued an apology.
The alleged victim publicly criticized the verdict, insisting it would not negate her experience nor diminish the pain she has endured, stating: Despite today's ruling, I will continue to speak the truth to the very end.
Women's rights organization Womenlink condemned the ruling and highlighted the persistent concealment of sexual violence within the theatre industry.
It remains unclear if the prosecution will pursue an appeal. Following the ruling, Mr. O expressed his gratitude to the court for what he described as a wise judgment.
O Yeong-Su's fame surged internationally following his role in 'Squid Game,' a dystopian series portraying high-stakes competitions based on children's games. He made history as the first South Korean actor to secure a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in a series for his outstanding performance.
