South Korea’s “Squid Game” actor O Yeong-su has been convicted of sexual misconduct, the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court announced Friday. The verdict follows charges of assaulting a woman in 2017.
O Yeong-su, aged 79, gained international acclaim in 2022 as the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in a series for his role in the Netflix hit series “Squid Game.” Despite this achievement, he has now been sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 40 hours of classes on sexual violence.
The court’s decision comes after O was indicted in 2022 on charges of sexually assaulting a woman on two separate occasions in 2017. The incidents occurred while O was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance, according to the Suwon District Court, first on a walking path and then in front of the victim’s residence.
Judge Jeong Yeon-ju emphasized the credibility of the victim’s statements, citing their consistency and the details provided. The victim’s identity has not been disclosed.
“Squid Game,” a dystopian thriller depicting a sinister world where marginalized individuals are coerced into deadly versions of childhood games, captivated global audiences upon its release on Netflix in 2021. The series garnered immense popularity, drawing in over 111 million viewers within four weeks.
The success of “Squid Game” further propelled South Korea’s cultural influence on the global stage, following the widespread acclaim received by K-pop sensation BTS and the Oscar-winning film “Parasite.”
