Guilty Verdict
South Korean “Squid Game” star Oh Young-soo has been found guilty of sexual misconduct by a local court, following charges of assaulting a woman back in 2017. The 79-year-old actor, who made history as the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in a series in 2022 for his role in the Netflix hit, has been sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
Justice Served
The Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court detailed that Oh Young-soo must also complete 40 hours of sexual violence education as part of his sentence. The victim’s account of the assault was deemed credible and consistent by the presiding judge, Jeong Yeon-ju.
Controversial Background
Oh Young-soo’s indictment in 2022 stemmed from allegations of sexually assaulting an unidentified woman on two separate occasions during his stay in a rural area for a theater performance in 2017. The incidents reportedly occurred on a walking path and in front of the victim’s residence.
“Squid Game” Impact
“Squid Game,” the dystopian thriller portraying a grim reality where disadvantaged individuals are coerced into lethal versions of childhood games, quickly became a global sensation on Netflix. Boasting a colossal viewership of 111 million within just four weeks of its 2021 release, the show propelled South Korea further into the limelight of popular culture, alongside K-pop sensations like BTS and acclaimed films such as “Parasite.”
Industry Shadows
The scandal involving Oh Young-soo adds to a series of controversies plaguing South Korea’s film industry, with other prominent figures like late filmmaker Kim Ki-duk and actor Cho Jae-hyun facing similar allegations of sexual assault.