A South Korean appeals court has overturned the sexual misconduct conviction of O Yeong-su, an 81-year-old actor who starred in Netflix’s global phenomenon “Squid Game,” according to Yonhap news agency.
The Suwon District Court acquitted O on Tuesday, overturning a lower court ruling that found him guilty of sexually harassing a woman during a regional theater tour in 2017. O had been accused of hugging and kissing the woman on the cheek without her consent.
The appeal court acknowledged the existence of suspicion, citing the fact that the woman had sought counseling for sexual violence six months after the alleged incident and that O had apologized to her upon her request. However, the bench expressed concern about the possibility of the victim’s memory being distorted over time and stressed the need to protect the interests of the accused when doubts remain.
The initial judgment sentenced O to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. Prosecutors had requested a one-year prison sentence both at trial and on appeal.
The alleged victim spoke out against the verdict following the ruling. “Despite today’s decision, I will continue to tell the truth until the end,” she said in a statement released by women’s rights organization Womenlink, adding that acquittal “would not invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered.”
Womenlink criticized the decision, saying it was “outraged by a decision that once again covers up sexual violence in the theater world,” according to BBC News.
O gained international recognition for his performance in “Squid Game”, winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role on Television in 2022. The Netflix series became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of the streaming platform’s most-watched programs.
The veteran actor’s legal troubles had cast a shadow over his career following his role in the survival thriller series.
