'Squid Game' Star Oh Young-soo Acquitted of Sexual Harassment Charges on Appeal

Actor Oh Young-soo, who gained global fame for his role in the hit Netflix series 'Squid Game', has been acquitted of sexual harassment charges in an appellate court ruling.

The Suwon District Court's appellate division overturned the original verdict on the afternoon of the 11th, finding Oh not guilty. The court stated that while the alleged victim may have reluctantly consented to a hug, the act of hugging itself, without clear evidence of forceful intent, does not constitute sexual harassment.

However, the judges acknowledged that the victim's delayed reporting of the incident, approximately six months after it occurred, and Oh's subsequent apology message raised suspicions. Nevertheless, considering the possibility of memory distortion over time and the lack of definitive proof for the prosecution's claims, the court ruled in favor of the defendant, applying the principle of 'in dubio pro reo' (when in doubt, rule in favor of the accused).

Oh was initially accused of inappropriate physical contact with a woman, identified as Ms. A, in 2017. He was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, in the first trial held on February 2, 2024. Both the prosecution and Oh appealed the ruling, citing unfair sentencing.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Oh has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that his actions, such as holding Ms. A's hand, were merely to guide her during a walk and not an act of sexual harassment. He also claimed his apology was not an admission of guilt.

Netizens are expressing relief and support for the actor following the acquittal. Comments like 'Glad the truth came out for him' and 'He's such a respected actor, this is a huge relief' are prevalent. Many are hoping this resolves the matter and allows him to focus on his acting career.