Squid Game's Oh Young-Soo Found Not Guilty In Assault Case After Two-Year Legal Battle

Veteran South Korean actor Oh Young-Soo, internationally celebrated for his role as Player 001 in Netflix’s Squid Game, has been cleared of all indecent assault charges by an appellate court. The decision

ends nearly two years of legal proceedings for the 80-year-old actor, overturning a previous conviction.

On November 11, the Suwon District Court’s Criminal Division 6-1 nullified the lower court ruling, declaring Oh not guilty in a case involving allegations of forcibly molesting a junior theatre colleague. The accusations pertained to incidents in August and September 2017 in Daegu, where Oh was alleged to have hugged and kissed the individual, identified as ‘A’, without consent.

The matter first came to light in December 2021, when the alleged victim filed a police complaint. Though authorities initially opted not to prosecute, an appeal prompted the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office in Seongnam to reopen the investigation, leading to Oh’s indictment in November 2022.

In the initial trial, Oh was found guilty and sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, along with a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program. The court had cited the credibility of the victim’s testimony. Both the actor and the prosecution appealed, with the latter seeking a one-year prison term during the appellate proceedings.

Speaking in court during the final hearing, Oh expressed the personal toll of the case. “At my age, I am ashamed to be standing in court. If my behavior back then was wrong and considered a crime, I will accept the consequences. But even now, I believe there was nothing in my actions that could be deemed as indecent. My 80 years of life have been shattered. It is painful and hollow. I only hope to return to my rightful place.”

After reviewing all evidence and testimonies, the appellate court concluded there was insufficient proof of criminal intent or misconduct and formally acquitted Oh Young-Soo. The actor, who made history as the first Korean performer to win a Golden Globe for his work in Squid Game, is widely regarded as one of South Korea’s most esteemed actors.