‘Squid Game’ Actor Oh Young-Soo, 79, Convicted Of Sexual Assault

Oh Young-Soo, best known for her role as a contestant on Netflix’s hit series, “Squid Game,” received a suspended sentence after being convicted of indecent assault.

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‘Squid Game’ Star Oh Young-Soo Found Guilty Of Sexual Assault

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On Friday, in a courtroom located in Seongnam, a city located southeast of Seoul, South Korea, Oh was formally convicted of indecent assault.

The district court judge presiding over the case found the actor guilty of indecent behavior towards an actress, including hugging her without consent, holding her hand and kissing her cheek. This incident was reported to have happened in 2017.

Oh Young-Soo Will Take Sexual Violence Class

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Oh, 79, received an eight-month suspended sentence and was mandated to attend 40 hours of sexual violence education classes. Despite publicly denying the charges, he expressed his intention to appeal the decision during a statement to reporters.

Prosecutors initiated charges against Oh in 2022 following a complaint from an unnamed actor, alleging inappropriate physical contact. The prosecution argued that between August and September 2017, he engaged in various unwanted acts, including hugging the woman, holding her hand, kissing her cheek, and entering her rented room, where he allegedly made sexually suggestive remarks, as detailed by Judge Jeong Yeon-ju.

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Oh Young-Soo Issues An Apology

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According to Judge Jeong, the actress had told others about her experiences at the time and documented them in her diary. In addition, he sought sexual violence counseling in March 2018 to overcome the distress caused by the incident.

Despite attempts to suppress the memories for a period, the surge in popularity of “Squid Game” in 2021 prompted the woman to confront Oh and demand an apology for her actions. Afterwards, he issued an apology in response to his request, as the judge noted.

Oh Young-Soo Denies the Allegation

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The judge revealed that Oh denied the allegations of kissing the woman, insisting that he only held her hand to help her carry things. Furthermore, the actress emphasized that her apology to him did not imply an admission of guilt.

Additionally, Oh’s legal representative argued that the woman’s account was inconsistent. However, the judge ultimately found the woman’s accusation credible despite this argument.

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Oh Young-Soo Receives Recognition For Her Role In ‘Squid Game’

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Just months before facing charges, Oh achieved a milestone by becoming the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe award.

He is recognized for his character as Player No. 001 in “The Octopus Game,” a dystopian drama that depicts individuals risking their lives in a secret competition in the hopes of acquiring great wealth.

In addition to her Golden Globe win, Oh received a 2022 Emmy Award nomination for her outstanding performance in the series, which remains the most-watched show in Netflix history. His character, Oh Il-Nam, is among many contestants vying for the top spot in a deadly game where only the winner survives, earning a life-changing prize. Throughout the series, Oh Il-nam hides certain truths about his identity from his fellow contestants, unraveling this mystery only at the end of the game.

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Sexual Misconduct Tarnishes Oh Young-Soo’s Reputation

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With a career spanning more than five decades and featuring appearances in more than 200 dramas, Oh has earned acclaim as one of South Korea’s most famous stage actors, earning numerous accolades in theater. However, the sexual misconduct charges caused significant damage to his professional trajectory long before the court’s decision.

Notably, Oh is absent from the cast of Season 2 of “Squid Game,” which is scheduled to be released this year. Additionally, South Korea’s Ministry of Culture stopped airing government advertisements featuring him in response to the allegations.

Oh’s absence extends to the upcoming film “About Family” by South Korean director Woo-seok Yang, with his scenes replaced and re-filmed with actor Lee Soon-Jae, as confirmed by Lotte Entertainment. In addition, she was removed from the cast of the South Korean drama “Love Letter” last year.

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Initiation of Sexual Assault Allegation

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In 2021, Oh’s accuser filed a complaint against him, leading to a police investigation in Seongnam. Although the prosecutor initially dismissed the case, the woman appealed for a reopening, resulting in the actor being charged following the collection of additional evidence.

Speaking to reporters as he entered his initial court hearing in February 2023, Oh expressed remorse, stating, “I’m sorry. I think I behaved badly.” However, he maintained his denial of the charges throughout the proceedings.

The indecent assault charge carries a possible maximum prison sentence of up to 10 years or a fine of up to 15 million South Korean won, about $11,400, as reported by The New York Times. However, prosecutors announced last month their intention to pursue a one-year sentence and job ban if Oh is found guilty.

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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/