Squid Game Actor Given Suspended Prison Sentence for Sexual Misconduct
A Prominent Figure from “Squid Game” Faces Legal Troubles
O Yeong-Su, renowned for his role in the hit series “Squid Game,” has been handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence by a South Korean court following the verdict in a sexual misconduct case. The 79-year-old actor was charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a woman on two separate occasions, with the incidents reportedly occurring five years ago during his stay in a rural area in 2017.
Allegations, Verdict, and O’s Response
O Yeong-Su has announced his intent to appeal the court’s decision and has been provided a seven-day window to proceed. The charges levied against him imply that he hugged and forcibly kissed a woman against her will, as reported by the Yonhap news agency. In addition to the sentence, the court has ordered O to attend mandatory classes on sexual violence.
Consistency in Victim’s Testimony and the Impact on O’s Image
Judge Jeong Yeon-ju, presiding over the case, highlighted the consistency between the victim’s records of the assault and her claims, noting that they were consistent with someone who had genuinely experienced such misconduct. O Yeong-Su had staunchly denied the allegations, with the Suwon District Court clarifying that the incidents occurred along a walking path and in front of the victim’s residence.
An International Breakthrough and the Ongoing Fallout
“Squid Game,” a dystopian drama series in which the actor achieved international recognition, rose to unprecedented fame and captivated over a hundred million viewers worldwide within weeks of its 2021 release on Netflix. O’s portrayal of Oh Il-nam, the eldest participant in the deadly games, earned him a historic Golden Globe win the following year. However, in the wake of the accusations against O, he has recently been dropped from an upcoming South Korean film, further exacerbating the consequences of the controversy.
Response from Feminist Organisations
Womenlink, a leading feminist organization, expressed their views shortly after the court’s ruling. They emphasized the need to acknowledge sexual violence within the theater industry, categorizing it as a profound problem that cannot be dismissed as a historical norm. They appealed to the accused actor to accept his mistake, genuinely apologize to the victim, and cease his efforts to mitigate the consequences of his assault.
