Squid Game star O Yeong-Su has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges by a court in South Korea.
The 81-year-old was charged in 2022 with sexually assaulting a woman twice. The allegations said that he hugged the woman and kissed her on the cheek against her will.
Mr. O was found guilty in 2024 and given an eight-month suspended prison sentence, but said he would appeal against the verdict.
On Tuesday, a court overturned his sentence, saying he had undergone classes on sexual violence and suggesting that the alleged victim's memory may have been distorted, considering how long ago the incident occurred.
The alleged assaults took place in 2017 when Mr. O was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance.
The alleged victim filed a complaint against Mr. O in 2021, but the case was closed in April the same year. The prosecution later reopened the investigation at the request of the victim, according to Yonhap agency.
In a statement reported by local media outlets, the Suwon District Court said there was doubt as to whether Mr. O had committed the assault.
There is a possibility that the victim's memory has been distorted over time, and when there is doubt... the defendant must be given the benefit of the doubt, the court stated. However, they also noted that Mr. O had apologized to the victim, suggesting he might still be culpable.
The alleged victim later spoke out against the verdict, stating it would not invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered. She emphasized, Despite today's ruling, I will continue to speak the truth to the very end, through the women's rights organization Womenlink, which also criticized the court's decision.
It remains uncertain whether the prosecution will further appeal the ruling.
Post-verdict, Mr. O expressed gratitude towards the court for its decision, highlighting his continued prominence following his success in the acclaimed series ‘Squid Game,’ which earned him a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in 2022.
