O Yeong Su, the 80-year-old South Korean actor has been sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of indecent assault.
The case stems from allegations that O Yeong Su, who became a global sensation as the mysterious Oh Il Nam (Player 001) in Netflix’s Squid Game, hugged and kissed a woman forcibly near his home in 2017.
The woman, a member of his theatre troupe, accused the actor of sexually harassing her on two different occasions. The prosecution described the incident as a misuse of power by a reputable senior actor over a helpless colleague.
Prosecutors emphasized the severity of the emotional and psychological trauma imposed on the victim at the final hearing held on April 3. According to reports from Korean media, the woman has lived in anxiety and distress in both her professional and personal life since the alleged attacks took place.
They depicted O Yeong Su as a highly influential figure in the theatre world, with nearly five decades of experience, who used his status to attack someone with no power.
The prosecution demanded a prison sentence, quoting the sincerity of the violation and the long-lasting effect on the victim. Despite the guilty verdict, O Yeong Su has persisted in denying all charges. His legal team claimed that the accusations lacked solid evidence, depending only on the victim’s testimony, which they claimed was insufficient, unreliable, and illogical.
They also pointed out that the actor only responded publicly to the allegations after achieving overall fame through Squid Game, and did so cautiously to avoid any negative repercussions on the show’s success.
In an address to the court, O Yeong Su said, “I am ashamed to be standing in court at this age. If my words or actions were wrong, I will accept the consequences. However, even upon reflection, I do not believe I committed any act that could be considered assault.” He added, “If my careless words and actions hurt someone in our brief acquaintance, I regret that. My 80 years of life have collapsed in an instant, and I feel empty. I just want to return to my place.”
Initially, he was given a sentence of eight months in prison with a two-year probation period. However, the latest ruling from the appeal trial has set a full one-year prison sentence.
The final verdict in this appeal will be officially announced on June 3.
The case has prompted substantial public debate in South Korea, not only because of O Yeong Su’s fame following Squid Game but also due to wider conversations around power dynamics in the entertainment industry and the accountability of public figures.
