Squid Game actor O Yeong-su sentenced to one year in prison

O Yeong-su, the 80-year-old actor renowned for his role as Oh Il Nam in the hit Netflix series Squid Game, has been sentenced to one year in prison after being convicted of indecent assault, according to reports from Korean media.

The charges against O stemmed from allegations that he forcibly molested a woman on two separate occasions, incidents he has consistently denied throughout the legal proceedings. During the appeal trial, O maintained his innocence, asserting that he did not commit the acts for which he was accused.

In the prosecution's closing arguments on April 3, the actor was described as having "sexually harassed a powerless junior member of the troupe." The prosecutors emphasized the lasting impact of his actions on the victim, who, they stated, had been living in constant fear both at work and in her daily life since the incidents occurred in 2017. They also highlighted a concerning statement attributed to O, in which he reportedly told the victim, "I did it with the heart of a father," arguing that it reflected a lack of remorse.

Prosecutors sought a one-year prison sentence, emphasizing that it would aid the victim's recovery and serve as a deterrent to similar offenses. They contended that the consistency in O's statements since the allegations surfaced reinforced the credibility of the charges against him.

O Yeong-su's defense team challenged all the accusations, arguing that the victim's testimony was the sole evidence against him and lacked consistency. They suggested that his formal response to the allegations was an effort to sidestep controversy linked to his sudden fame from Squid Game.

In court, O expressed regret for any pain he may have caused but reiterated his innocence. "If my words or actions were wrong, I will accept the consequences. However, even upon reflection, I do not believe I committed any act that could be considered assault," he stated. "My 80 years of life have collapsed in an instant, and I feel empty. I just want to return to my place."

Initially sentenced to eight months in prison with two years of probation, O's sentence was increased to one year in the appeal ruling. A final verdict is expected to be announced on June 3. The allegations date back to 2017, when O was accused of forcibly hugging and kissing the victim near his residence, which he denies.