Squid Game Actor OH Yeong-Su Acquitted of Sexual Misconduct Charges

South Korean actor O Yeong-Su, known internationally for his role in the hit Netflix series Squid Game, has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a South Korean court. The 81-year-old actor had faced allegations of sexually assaulting a woman on two occasions in 2017.

O Yeong-Su was originally found guilty in 2024 and given an eight-month suspended prison sentence, which he appealed. On Tuesday, the Suwon District Court overturned the conviction, citing that the actor had completed sexual violence education classes and noting that the alleged victim’s memory may have been “distorted” over time.

The alleged incidents reportedly took place while O Yeong-Su was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance. The victim initially filed a complaint in 2021, which was closed in April of the same year, but the prosecution later reopened the case at the request of the victim.

In its ruling, the court stated there was “doubt” about whether O Yeong-Su had committed the assault, adding that in cases of uncertainty, the defendant must be given the benefit of the doubt. However, the court also acknowledged that the actor had apologised to the victim, leaving room for the possibility that misconduct may have occurred.

The alleged victim condemned the verdict, saying it would not “invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered” and affirmed her commitment to continue speaking out. Women’s rights group Womenlink also criticised the ruling, describing it as “outrageous” and claiming it conceals sexual violence in the theatre industry.

Following the verdict, O Yeong-Su expressed his gratitude to the court for its “wise judgement.”

O Yeong-Su gained international fame through Squid Game, which depicts contestants competing in deadly versions of children’s games. In 2022, he became the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a series, earning acclaim for his role in the series’ first season.