According to local media and AFP, Squid Game star O Yeong-su has been charged with sexual misconduct in Korea.
The actor, who won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal in the Netflix blockbuster, was charged yesterday without bail on an allegation that he unlawfully touched a woman’s body five years ago. The story was confirmed by local media and AFP.
According to local sources, the case was concluded earlier this year but reopened owing to the victim’s appeal. According to JTBC, O, who portrayed Oh Il-Nam, the oldest game player, in Netflix’s most-watched program of all time, admitted that, despite her apology, she had been “holding hands with the woman to explain the route around a lake” and that this was not an admission of guilt.
“I only held her hand to direct the route around the lake,” Oh stated in a statement to JTBC. I apologized because [the person] stated she wouldn’t make a big deal out of it, but that doesn’t imply I’m guilty.”
According to AFP, a Suwon court official stated that “everything published in local media is not factually true.”
O has been acting for almost 50 years, but his appearance in Squid Game brought him worldwide fame and admiration. Other credits include playing King Lear in the eponymous play and appearing in the South Korean TV series Chocolate.