Yahoo News ‘Squid Game’ Star Oh Yeong-su Convicted Of Sexual Misconduct
South Korean actor Oh Yeong-su, star of Netflix’s 2021 smash-hit series Squid Game, has been convicted of sexual misconduct and given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for sexually harassing an actress in 2017.
A district court judge in the city of Seongnam ruled Friday that the 79-year-old actor was guilty of inappropriately touching an actress, including hugging her, holding her hand and kissing her cheek, according to reports in the South Korean press, including the Korean Herald and Yonhap News Agency.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Pourri CEO Suzy Batiz Talks "Alive Ideas" During House of Robb Discussion at SXSW
Elliot Page on Fame, How Hollywood Is "Pretty Toxic" and Why LGBTQ+ "Is Not Niche"
Prosecutors pressed charges against him in November 2022 after the victim pressed her case in the wake of Squid Game‘s global success. In addition to his suspended sentence, Oh will be required to complete 40 hours in a sexual violence treatment program.
“The content of the victim’s journal, and the content of her counseling after the incident is consistent with what happened, and her testimonies could not have been given unless she actually experienced it,” the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Court said in its verdict. According to local reports, Oh has said he will appeal the verdict.
A 50-year veteran of the Korean stage and screen, Oh has appeared in over 200 stage plays, as well as numerous TV series and occasional films. He achieved improbably late-career global fame thanks to Squid Game, playing Oh Il-nam, a seemingly out-of-place old man competing in the show’s greed-driven battle to the death. His twinkly-eyed performance earned him South Korea’s first Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in a series, miniseries or television film, as well as a Primetime Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. Netflix has not commented on Oh’s case or whether he will return for Squid Game‘s much-anticipated second season.
Oh was indicted by Korean prosecutors in November 2022 for allegedly inappropriately touching a young actress while the two were on tour for a play five years prior. The police report said that Oh attempted to hug the unidentified woman by force and kissed her on the cheek while they went out for a stroll together. Oh publicly admitted that he held the victim’s hand but denies there was any indecent assault. The allegations were originally brought in 2021, but the police dropped the case due to a lack of evidence. Later, the prosecutors reopened the investigation after the woman appealed.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
