Actor Oh Young-soo, who gained worldwide fame from Netflix's Squid Game, was acquitted on appeal of charges of sexual assault. But the victim's side and women's groups have continued to protest, and overseas media have reported the news, spreading the controversy.
#. "There was consent to the hug"… court overturns first trial and finds not guilty
At around 11 p.m., Suwon District Court Criminal Appeal Division 6-1 overturned the original sentence (8 months in prison, suspended for 2 years) and acquitted Oh Young-soo, who was charged with sexual assault. The bench said, "It is true that the victim reluctantly agreed to the defendant's offer to hug, but there was consent to the hug itself," and added, "The force of the hug alone cannot be regarded as sexual assault."
The court also ruled, "We cannot rule out the possibility that the victim's memory was distorted over time," and "If doubts remain, the judgment should be made in favor of the defendant." Accordingly, the first-trial guilty verdict was overturned, and Oh Young-soo was cleared of the charges after nearly two years of legal disputes.
# victim: "An acquittal cannot erase the truth"… "Judiciary, reflect responsibly"
But the victim, a person surnamed A, immediately pushed back. In an official statement released through the Korean Women's Association United, the person said, "I find today's verdict unreal and express deep regret." She added, "This ruling is a shameful sentence that reinforces the structure of sexual violence and hierarchical structures. The judiciary must reflect responsibly on what message this ruling sends to society."
She also said, "The acquittal can never neutralize the truth or erase the pain I experienced," and added, "I cannot stand by while sexual violence in the cultural and artistic community and society is ignored, and I will speak the truth to the end."
#. Women's groups: "a verdict that silenced the victim's voice"… foreign media also focus attention
Women's groups, including the Korean Women's Association United's sexual violence counseling center, held an emergency press conference and criticized, "The court denied the credibility of the victim's testimony. This ruling silences survivors of sexual violence."
The news quickly spread to overseas media. The BBC reported, "The Korean Women's Association United called this ruling another example of the theater world's concealment of sexual violence," and added, "There is growing criticism that the court ignored the voices of the socially vulnerable." U.S. Variety analyzed, "The seasoned actor's legal troubles have cast a shadow over the fame and career he built since Squid Game."
Online public opinion has been divided after the ruling. Some netizens reacted, "I respect the court's decision but feel a bitter aftertaste," and "I hope the victim's brave words are not in vain." Others left comments such as, "I'm worried that social stigma will remain even though there was an acquittal," and "As long as the court's judgment is clear, there should be no more witch hunts."
# "From the grandpa in 'kkanbu' to the defendant"… the remaining task is 'image recovery'
Oh Young-soo played the role of O Il-nam in Netflix's Squid Game in 2021 and was loved worldwide as the "kkanbu grandpa." The following year he became the first Korean actor to win the Golden Globe for best supporting actor in television. However, he was later indicted on charges of sexual assault, his activities were halted, and major broadcasters such as KBS imposed appearance bans. Interest is focused on whether the appearance restrictions will be lifted after this not-guilty verdict.
An industry source said, "Even if there is an acquittal, internal broadcasting ethics review procedures remain," and added, "It is highly likely that the production team will decide whether to resume appearances after considering its judgment and public reaction."
[Photo] Netflix
[OSEN]