'Squid Game' Actor Oh Yeoung-Su Found Guilty Of Sexual Misconduct

South Korean actor O Yeong-Su, known for his portrayal of Player 001 in the global phenomenon ‘Squid Game’, has found himself embroiled in a legal battle with serious allegations. A court in South Korea sentenced the 79-year-old to an eight-month suspended prison term after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a woman twice in 2017.

Award-Winning Career Meets Shocking Charges

O Yeong-Su's career trajectory took an unexpected turn in 2021. After decades of acting experience, he rose to international fame with his role as Oh Il-nam, the seemingly frail yet cunning old man in ‘Squid Game.’ The Netflix series became a runaway hit, captivating audiences worldwide and garnering O a Golden Globe Award in 2022, making him the first South Korean actor to achieve this feat.

However, just months later, his world came crashing down as he faced accusations of sexual misconduct. The alleged incidents occurred in 2017 when O was in a rural area for a theatre performance. According to AFP, citing the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court, the charges stemmed from claims that O inappropriately touched and kissed a woman against her will.

Don't Miss:Here's Why Rumours Of Prince William Dating Kate Middleton's Best Friends Are Rife

Victim's Testimony Holds Weight in Court

O vehemently denied the accusations, stating that his apology to the woman was not an admission of guilt and that he had merely held her hand to assist her. His defence team argued inconsistencies in the woman's narrative. However, Judge Jeong Yeon-ju found the victim's testimony credible. As reported by AFP, the judge highlighted the consistency of the victim's written accounts in her diary and the fact that she sought counselling shortly after the incident.

"The victim's records of the assault and her claims were 'consistent ... and appear to be statements that cannot be made without actually experiencing them,'" Judge Jeong remarked. The judge further noted that the woman initially chose to stay silent but came forward in 2021 after ‘Squid Game's success, seeking an apology from O.

The court's decision resonated with women's rights groups (Lack Of Justice For Women: Figuring Out The Catalyst Behind India's Flawed Justice System). 'Womenlink,' a prominent activist organisation, commended the verdict in an X (formerly Twitter) post, emphasising, "The defendant resembles other offenders of sexual violence in theatre in the past who tried to cover up their sexual violence as 'favour' and 'friendship.'"

2024년 3월 15일 13시 50분, 수원지방법원 성남지원에서 연극계 성폭력 가해자 배우 오00의 1심 선고재판이 열렸습니다. 가해자에게 징역 8월에 집행유예 2년 선고가 나왔습니다!!!! 연극계 성폭력이 이제 멈추기를 바라며 <연극계 성폭력, 더이상 용납되지 않는다> 기자회견을 진행하고 있습니다. pic.twitter.com/cyasXpYnnY

— 한국여성민우회 (@womenlink) March 15, 2024

O's legal troubles extended beyond the courtroom. He was dropped from an upcoming South Korean film (Liked Business Proposal? Here Are 5 K-Dramas For Hopeless Romantics) due to the controversy surrounding the accusations. While O has indicated his intention to appeal the verdict, the court's ruling serves as a stark reminder that even celebrated figures are not immune to facing consequences for their actions.

Don't Miss:Amitabh Bachchan Admitted To Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai; Goes Through Angioplasty Surgery: Reports

Image Courtesy: Instagram

Jagran New Media's gender and lifestyle vertical, catering to women of all age groups, helping them remain updated, on-trend, and aware. To improve our performance and understand our readers' interests better, we have created this poll. This will take two minutes of your time, do help us by clicking here.

For more such stories, stay tuned to HerZindagi.