Squid Game star O Yeong-Su has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a court in South Korea.
The 81-year-old was charged in 2022 with sexually assaulting a woman twice. The allegations stated that he hugged the woman and kissed her on the cheek against her will.
O was previously found guilty in 2024 and given an eight-month suspended prison sentence, but he appealed the verdict.
On Tuesday, a court overturned his sentence, stating that he had undergone classes on sexual violence and suggesting that the alleged victim's memory may have been 'distorted', considering the time elapsed since the incident.
The alleged assaults took place in 2017 during a theatre performance. The victim filed a complaint against O in 2021, but the case was initially closed that April. The prosecution later reopened the investigation at the victim's request.
The Suwon District Court noted 'doubt' regarding whether O committed the assault, emphasizing the potential distortion of the victim's memory over time. It also stated that the defendant must receive the benefit of the doubt when doubt exists.
However, the court acknowledged that it was still possible that O had committed the assault, as he had apologized to the victim.
After the ruling, the alleged victim maintained that the decision would not invalidate her truth or erase her suffering. She stated, 'Despite today's ruling, I will continue to speak the truth to the very end,' through the women's rights organization Womenlink, which also condemned the ruling as an attempt to conceal sexual violence in the theatre industry.
It remains unclear if the prosecution will appeal this latest decision.
Post-verdict, O expressed gratitude to the court for what he deemed a wise judgment. O Yeong-Su gained international recognition as a key player in the hit series 'Squid Game', a show that showcases dire competitions resembling children's games. He was also the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in a series for his role in the show.
