O Yeong-su, the 80-year-old South Korean actor who became world famous for playing the elderly gambler 001 in the series The Squid Game, was sentenced by a South Korean court to eight months in prison, although the sentence was suspended for two years of probation.
The reason: a sexual harassment allegation filed by a woman who claims the actor touched her inappropriately on two occasions in 2017. The identity of the complainant was not publicly disclosed.
In addition to the sentence, the court ordered O to complete a 40-hour re-education program for persons convicted of sexual offenses.
The story only came to light in 2022, when the victim filed the formal complaint. At that time, O denied all charges and claimed that he had no intention of inconveniencing the woman. “I just took her hand to guide her down the river,” he told the media.
According to the victim, O Yeong-su kissed and touched her without her consent. The actor, for his part, justified his behavior as a “show of fatherly affection.” – The Tribune
However, the prosecution considered that there was sufficient evidence to bring him to trial, and now the court agreed.
After learning of the ruling, the actor expressed his intention to appeal the decision. “I deeply regret having caused inconvenience with this process, but I will defend my innocence until the end,” he declared.
O Yeong-su was the first South Korean actor to receive a Golden Globe, in 2022, for his role in The Squid Game, the most watched series in Netflix history. His character, the seemingly frail old man hiding a big secret, became one of the show’s most iconic.
The conviction puts on hold his international career, which had taken a new lease of life after the success of the series.