O Yeong-Su, known for his role in the series “Squid Game,” has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a South Korean court. The 81-year-old actor was initially charged in 2022 after a woman alleged that he had sexually assaulted her twice in 2017 while he was in a rural area for a theater performance. The claims included unwanted hugging and kissing on the cheek.
In 2024, O was found guilty and sentenced to an eight-month suspended prison term but announced plans to appeal the verdict. On a recent court ruling, his conviction was overturned. The court noted that O had participated in sexual violence awareness classes and expressed doubts regarding the victim’s memory, suggesting it may have been influenced by the time elapsed since the incidents.
The alleged assaults reportedly occurred in 2017, but the victim did not file a complaint until 2021. The case was initially closed that April but was reopened at the request of the victim, according to the Yonhap agency. The Suwon District Court pointed out that without clear evidence, the defendant deserves the benefit of the doubt.
While the court acknowledged the possibility of assault, it mentioned O’s previous apology to the victim. Following the ruling, the victim released a statement through the women’s rights group Womenlink, asserting that the decision does not change her truth or diminish her suffering. Womenlink expressed their displeasure, stating that the ruling obscures instances of sexual violence in the theater industry.
It remains uncertain whether the prosecution plans to appeal the court’s decision. Following the judgment, O expressed appreciation to the court for its ruling. He gained international recognition through “Squid Game” and made history as the first South Korean actor to receive a Golden Globe Award for his performance in the Netflix series.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qpy1y09qwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss