O Yeong-su, a star of the hit Netflix series 'Squid Game', has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a South Korean court. The ruling comes after the 81-year-old actor was initially convicted in 2024 for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman twice in 2017. The allegations included unwanted physical contact, such as hugging and kissing.
Despite his earlier conviction and an eight-month suspended prison sentence, Mr. O maintained his innocence and appealed the verdict. On Tuesday, the court decided to overturn the sentence, highlighting that he had taken educational classes on sexual violence and raised questions about the reliability of the victim's memory due to the time lapse since the alleged incidents.
The court found 'doubt' regarding whether the assault occurred. It indicated that the victim's memory might have been 'distorted over time', granting the defendant the benefit of the doubt—however, it also acknowledged that it is possible Mr. O may have committed the alleged assault.
In a statement, the alleged victim expressed her dismay over the ruling, claiming it doesn’t change the truth of her experience and vowing to continue sharing her story. The women's rights organization Womenlink also expressed outrage, criticizing the court’s decision as an erosion of accountability for sexual violence within the theater and entertainment sectors.
O Yeong-su, who has received acclaim for his role in 'Squid Game', including a historic Golden Globe award, expressed gratitude to the court for its ruling. This case highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding issues of sexual misconduct and the legal system's handling of such allegations in South Korea.
Despite his earlier conviction and an eight-month suspended prison sentence, Mr. O maintained his innocence and appealed the verdict. On Tuesday, the court decided to overturn the sentence, highlighting that he had taken educational classes on sexual violence and raised questions about the reliability of the victim's memory due to the time lapse since the alleged incidents.
The court found 'doubt' regarding whether the assault occurred. It indicated that the victim's memory might have been 'distorted over time', granting the defendant the benefit of the doubt—however, it also acknowledged that it is possible Mr. O may have committed the alleged assault.
In a statement, the alleged victim expressed her dismay over the ruling, claiming it doesn’t change the truth of her experience and vowing to continue sharing her story. The women's rights organization Womenlink also expressed outrage, criticizing the court’s decision as an erosion of accountability for sexual violence within the theater and entertainment sectors.
O Yeong-su, who has received acclaim for his role in 'Squid Game', including a historic Golden Globe award, expressed gratitude to the court for its ruling. This case highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding issues of sexual misconduct and the legal system's handling of such allegations in South Korea.
