Actor O Yeong-su, renowned for his role in South Korea's hit series "Squid Game," has been found guilty of sexual misconduct by a local court on Friday.
The 79-year-old, who made history by becoming the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Series in 2022, was charged with molesting a woman in 2017.
According to the police report, O Yeong-su was convicted of sexually molesting a woman after a thorough investigation and legal proceedings.
The court sentenced him to eight months in jail, with a two-year suspension, and ordered him to undergo 40 hours of sexual violence education.
Judge Jeong Yeon-ju emphasised the credibility of the victim's testimony, stating that her accounts of the incident were consistent and indicative of genuine experience.
This is not the first time O Yeong-su has faced such allegations. In 2022, he was charged without imprisonment for allegedly sexually abusing an unidentified woman on two occasions.
The incidents in question occurred in 2017 while O Yeong-su was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance.
They took place along a walking route and in front of the victim's residence, as per the Suwon District Court.
"Squid Game," the Netflix series that propelled O Yeong-su to international fame, depicts a dark world where disadvantaged individuals are coerced into participating in deadly versions of traditional children's games.
The show's immense popularity, accumulating 111 million views within four weeks of its 2021 release, has solidified South Korea's growing influence on global pop culture, following in the footsteps of K-pop sensation BTS and the Oscar-winning film "Parasite."
The entertainment industry in South Korea has grappled with several high-profile sexual assault cases in recent years, including accusations against prominent figures like late filmmaker Kim Ki-duk and actor Cho Jae-hyun.
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