15-3-2024 (SEOUL) In a case that has cast a shadow over the immense success of the hit Netflix series ‘Squid Game’, veteran South Korean actor O Yeong-su has been found guilty of sexual misconduct by a local court. The 79-year-old, who made history in 2022 by becoming the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series for his portrayal of a seemingly vulnerable old man in the dystopian thriller, faced charges of assaulting a woman in 2017.
The Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court handed down a sentence of eight months in prison, suspended for two years, to O Yeong-su, according to information provided to AFP. Additionally, the actor has been ordered to complete 40 hours of classes on sexual violence.
In delivering the verdict, Judge Jeong Yeon-ju stated, “The victim’s own records of the assault and her claims are consistent… and appear to be statements that cannot be made without actually experiencing them.”
O Yeong-su was indicted in 2022 without detention on charges of sexually assaulting an unidentified woman on two separate occasions. The incidents took place while the actor was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance in 2017, occurring on a walking path and in front of the victim’s residence, respectively, according to the Suwon District Court.
‘Squid Game’, a series that depicts a dark world where marginalized individuals are forced to compete in deadly versions of traditional children’s games, quickly gained immense popularity on Netflix. Within less than four weeks of its release in 2021, it attracted a staggering 111 million viewers, amplifying South Korea’s increasingly outsized influence on global popular culture.
The show’s success has followed in the footsteps of global fame achieved by South Korean cultural exports such as the K-pop band BTS and the Academy Award-winning film ‘Parasite’.
However, O Yeong-su’s conviction has shed light on the recurring issue of sexual assault allegations against figures in South Korea’s film industry. Late filmmaker Kim Ki-duk and actor Cho Jae-hyun are among those who have faced similar accusations in the past.
As the legal proceedings surrounding O Yeong-su’s case come to a close, the verdict serves as a reminder of the need for accountability and addressing misconduct within the entertainment industry, even in the face of immense success and accolades.
