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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Court upholds 'Squid Game' actors' acquittal in sexual harassment case

Court upholds 'Squid Game' actors' acquittal in sexual harassment case

Published Jun 26, 2026 04:37 pm
“Squid Game” season 1 actor and Golden Globe winner O Yeong-su (Netflix)
“Squid Game” season 1 actor and Golden Globe winner O Yeong-su (Netflix)

South Korea's Supreme Court has upheld the acquittal of "Squid Game" actor O Yeong-su, bringing to a close a years-long legal battle over sexual harassment allegations stemming from a 2017 incident.

In a ruling issued on June 25, the Supreme Court's Third Division affirmed the Nov. 11, 2025 decision of the Suwon District Court's Criminal Appeals Division, which overturned the actor's earlier conviction and acquitted him of the charges.

The prosecution had appealed the appellate court's decision after O was cleared last year.

The 81-year-old actor was accused of inappropriately touching a woman, a fellow member of his theater troupe, during a performance of "King Lear" in Daegu in 2017. The complainant alleged that O hugged her while they were walking on a trail and later kissed her on the cheek near her home.

During the investigation and trial, O admitted to holding the woman's hand but consistently denied the allegations against him.

The woman filed a complaint with police in December 2021, months after O gained international recognition for portraying Player No. 001, Oh Il-nam, in Netflix's global hit series "Squid Game."

Police initially decided not to pursue the case, but prosecutors reopened the investigation following the complainant's appeal.

In November 2022, prosecutors indicted O for allegedly violating Article 298 of South Korea's Criminal Act, or indecent act by compulsion.

In March 2024, the Suwon District Court found him guilty and sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. The court also ordered him to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program.

O appealed the ruling, and the Suwon District Court's Criminal Appeals Division overturned the conviction in November 2025, acquitting the actor. Prosecutors then elevated the case to the Supreme Court.

The latest ruling affirms the appellate court's acquittal, effectively ending the criminal proceedings in O's favor.

O Yeong-su rose to global fame through "Squid Game," which premiered on Netflix in 2021. His portrayal of the enigmatic Oh Il-nam earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in Television, making him the first South Korean actor to win in the category.

“Squid Game” stars O Yeong-su (right) and Lee Jung-jae (Netflix)
“Squid Game” stars O Yeong-su (right) and Lee Jung-jae (Netflix)

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Squid Game Golden Globes Netflix O Yeong-su
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