The appeals court has acquitted renowned actor O Yeong-su, best known for his role in the hit Netflix series Squid Game, of sexual harassment charges stemming from an alleged 2017 incident.
The Suwon District Court overturned a lower court’s decision that had found the 81-year-old actor guilty of hugging and kissing a woman on the cheek without her consent during a regional theater tour.
However, the appellate panel noted that while there were grounds to suspect O’s involvement given that the woman received sexual violence counseling six months after the incident and accepted O’s apology at her request the reliability of her memory could have been affected by the passage of time. The court also emphasized the need to protect the defendant’s rights in the face of reasonable doubt.
According to The Korea Times, the ruling highlighted the challenge of determining intent and consent in cases involving delayed reporting.
O Yeong-su had faced intense public scrutiny when the case first surfaced, sparking controversy among Squid Game fans.
The appeals court’s decision now allows him to restore his professional reputation and brings relief after more than five years of legal and emotional turmoil. –Boom!
