Famous South Korean actor Oh Young-soo, best known for his role as the wise old man in Netflix’s Squid Game, has been cleared of sexual misconduct charges. The 81-year-old actor’s conviction was overturned by the Suwon District Court, nearly a year after he was found guilty of two counts of sexual harassment. The court decided to reverse the lower court’s ruling, giving the veteran actor relief from his suspended prison sentence.
Squid Game Actor Oh Young-soo Cleared of Charges
The case dates back to 2017, when Oh was accused of hugging and kissing a woman without her consent during a regional theatre tour. In 2024, a lower court had found him guilty and sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to attend 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program. However, Oh maintained his innocence, saying he only held the woman’s hand to guide her and apologized simply to avoid conflict.
The appellate court explained that while some suspicion remained, there were doubts about the accuracy of the victim’s memory, as the alleged incident took place years ago. The court also stated that when reasonable doubt exists, the defendant’s rights must be protected. Although the woman had sought counselling for sexual trauma after the incident and received an apology, the judges concluded the evidence was not strong enough to uphold the conviction.
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After the new ruling, the alleged victim expressed disappointment, saying the decision would not “erase the pain” she experienced. A women’s rights group, Womenlink, also criticized the judgment, calling it “outrageous” and claiming it reflects how sexual violence in the theatre world continues to be minimized. Despite the ruling, the woman vowed to continue speaking out for justice.
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Oh Young-soo remains one of South Korea’s most respected stage actors, with a career spanning over six decades and more than 200 stage performances. His global fame skyrocketed after the Squid Game in 2021, where he played Oh Il-nam, also known as “Player 001.” In 2022, he made history by winning South Korea’s first Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor, cementing his place as a legend in Korean entertainment.
Author: Purnima s
Purnima | Entertainment Blogger 4+ yrs writing fun blogs on movies, celebs & trends. Pop culture addict serving fresh, binge-worthy content!
