The South Korean court has acquitted actor O Yeong-su of allegations of sexual misconduct. The 81-year-old actor was accused of inappropriately hugging and kissing a woman without her consent in 2022. Initially found guilty in 2024 and given an eight-month suspended prison sentence, O appealed the decision. Recently, the appellate court overturned the ruling, citing O’s completion of sexual violence education and suggesting that the alleged victim’s memory of events may have been distorted due to the passage of time.
The incidents in question took place in 2017 while O was working on a theater project in a rural area. The woman lodged a complaint against him in 2021, leading to an investigation that was initially closed in April of that year. Prosecutors later reopened the case at the victim’s request.
The Suwon District Court mentioned uncertainties about whether O had committed the assault, emphasizing that doubt should benefit the defendant when there are discrepancies in the victim’s memory over time. While acknowledging the possibility of O’s involvement, the court noted his previous apology to the victim.
The alleged victim expressed disappointment with the verdict, stating that the decision does not diminish the truth or the suffering she endured. She vowed to continue speaking out through the women’s rights group Womenlink, which also criticized the verdict for allegedly concealing sexual violence within the theater industry.
It is unclear if prosecutors will challenge the ruling. Following the verdict, O thanked the court for its decision. O Yeong-su gained global fame for his role in “Squid Game,” a popular Netflix series where participants face life-threatening challenges based on childhood games. He made history in 2022 by becoming the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Series for his outstanding performance in the show’s debut season.