An appellate court in South Korea has recently overturned the sexual misconduct conviction of O Yeong-su, an 81-year-old actor who gained fame for his role in Netflix’s hit series “Squid Game,” as reported by the Yonhap News Agency.
The Suwon District Court made the decision to acquit O, reversing a previous ruling that had found him guilty of sexually harassing a woman during a regional theater tour back in 2017. The allegations against O included hugging and kissing the woman on the cheek without her consent.
During the appeal, the court acknowledged the existence of suspicion surrounding the case. This was based on the fact that the woman sought counseling for sexual violence six months after the alleged incident and that O had apologized to her upon her request. However, the court expressed concerns about the potential distortion of the victim’s memory over time and emphasized the importance of protecting the defendant’s interests in cases where doubts persist.
Originally, O had been sentenced to an eight-month prison term, suspended for two years. Prosecutors had sought a one-year prison sentence in both the initial trial and the appeal.
Following the court’s decision, the alleged victim spoke out against the verdict, stating that she would continue to speak the truth despite the acquittal. She emphasized that the ruling would not invalidate the truth or erase the pain she had endured. Women’s rights organization Womenlink also criticized the ruling, expressing outrage over what they perceived as the concealment of sexual violence in the theater industry.
O rose to international fame for his role in “Squid Game,” which garnered him a Golden Globe award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role on TV in 2022. The Netflix series became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of the platform’s most-watched programs.
Despite his success in the series, O’s legal troubles have cast a shadow over his career. The outcome of the appeal has sparked debate and raised questions about the handling of sexual misconduct cases in the entertainment industry.
Overall, the overturning of O’s conviction has generated mixed reactions and brought attention to the complexities surrounding allegations of sexual misconduct in the public eye. As the actor navigates this legal victory, the impact on his reputation and career remains to be seen.
