An actor from Netflix’s hit Korean series “Squid Game” has been banned from appearing on TV after a court found him guilty of sexually harassing a woman.
In a decision, South Korean channel KBS banned “Squid Game” actor O Yeong-su, 79, from appearing on any of its shows.
Korean actor O Yeong-su as Oh Il-nam in "Squid Game" (Netflix)
Korean actor O Yeong-su (left) with Lee Jung-Jae in "Squid Game" (Netflix)
KBS announced on May 28, "As of May 13, the Broadcasting Appearance Regulation Review Committee raised the regulation on O Yeong-su from 'recommendation to refrain from appearing on the show' to 'suspension.'"
Korean media reported that if one is suspended from appearing on a channel, it not only bans the person's appearance on any show but that person’s face will be mosaicked in any video footage.
O Yeong-su rose to fame through “Squid Game,” released in 2021, and went on to win the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2022.
In the series, he portrayed the role of player No. 001 Oh Il-nam.
However, in December 2021, nearly four months after “Squid Game” was released, a woman filed a complaint with the police against him.
She accused O Yeong-su of inappropriately making physical contact in mid-2017.
O Yeong-su stayed in Daegu, South Korea for two months for a theater performance in 2017. In August of that year, he hugged the victim on a promenade and in September of the same year, he allegedly harassed her on two occasions including kissing her on the cheek. He denied the charges.
The woman was 22 at the time of the incident and O Yeong-su was 50 years older than her.
The police initially closed the case and decided not to send it to the prosecution but the woman appealed and prosecutors conducted another investigation, which led to the actor’s indictment. In November 2022, O Yeong-su was indicted by the prosecution for alleged violation of Article 298 or Indecent Act by Compulsion under Korea’s law, Criminal Act.
“A person who, through violence or intimidation, commits an indecent act on another shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than ten years or by a fine not exceeding 15 million won [about $11,200],” according to the law.
On March 15 this year, the Suwon District Court sentenced O Yeong-su, who attended the hearing, to eight months in prison suspended for two years and ordered him to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program.
In the decision, the court stated, “The contents of the victim’s diary and the counseling the victim received from a counseling institution after this incident are largely consistent with the contents of the case. The victim’s claims are consistent and appear to be statements that cannot be made unless one has experienced it.
The court added that the victim tried to forget what happened but as “Squid Game” became successful, O Yeong-su often appeared in the media and it became difficult for her. The court said the victim’s statement that she sent a text message to O Yeong-su asking for an apology but she was angry at him for ignoring it so she decided to file a complaint was convincing.
During a court hearing in February, O Yeong-su said, "It's so difficult and painful to stand in court. It's devastating to see my life end in this situation, and I feel like my whole life is falling apart.”
O Yeong-su previously said he would appeal the court decision.
Meanwhile, KBS is also deliberating to regulate the appearance of singer Kim Ho-joong on the channel, who is accused of drunk driving and hit-and-run.