Veteran actor Oh Young Soo, who is known for his role in the popular Netflix series Squid Game, has been cleared of indecent assault charges after an appeal court decision overturned his prior conviction.
Oh, who was charged with forcibly molesting a junior theatre colleague, was found not guilty on November 11 by the Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 6-1 (Appellate Division), which overturned the lower court's decision.
Oh expressed deep remorse over the ordeal, maintaining his innocence during his final statement in the appellate hearing.
According to AllKpop, the veteran actor said, “At my age, I am ashamed to be standing in court. If my behaviour 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.”
In August 2017, Oh was accused of kissing and hugging a fellow theatre member, without permission, while she was in Daegu for a stage show. The following month, he was also accused of kissing the co-artist on the cheek in front of her house.
The alleged victim filed a police complaint in December 2021, and the case initially came to light. The alleged victim’s appeal led the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office in Seongnam to reopen the investigation, even though the police had originally decided not to refer the case for prosecution.
Prosecutors charged Oh without incarceration in November 2022.
Also Read: Squid Game actor Oh Young Soo's sexual misconduct trial to resume in August
Citing the victim's credible testimony, the court found Oh guilty in the first trial and sentenced him to eight months in prison with a two-year suspension and 40 hours of treatment for sexual violence.
In both the first and second trials, prosecutors sought a one-year prison sentence, and both Oh and the prosecution appealed the decision.
The appellate court's ruling reversed the earlier conviction, absolving Oh of all charges.
For the unversed, the South Korean actor Oh Young Soo rose to stardom with his role of Oh Il Nam, aka 001, in Netflix’s Squid Game. He portrayed the mastermind behind the games in the thriller series. Young Soo also made history in 2022 after he became the first Korean actor to win Best Supporting Actor in Television at the Golden Globe Awards for his role in Squid Game.
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