South Korea's Supreme Court Finalizes Oh Yeong Soo's Acquittal in Sexual Misconduct Case
The 'Squid Game' actor has been acquitted after South Korea's Supreme Court dismissed the prosecution's final appeal, bringing a nearly four-year legal battle to an end.
Supreme Court Upholds Not-Guilty Verdict
Actor Oh Yeong Soo, best known internationally for his role in Netflix's Squid Game, has been officially acquitted after South Korea's Supreme Court dismissed the prosecution's final appeal.
The ruling, delivered on June 25 by the Supreme Court's Third Division, makes the appellate court's not-guilty verdict final, concluding legal proceedings that lasted approximately three years and seven months.
The Supreme Court determined that the prosecution's appeal did not meet the procedural requirements necessary for further review.
Background of the Case
Oh Yeong Soo was indicted without detention in November 2022 over allegations that he forcibly molested a female member of a theater troupe on two occasions in 2017.
According to prosecutors, the actor allegedly hugged the woman without her consent and later kissed her on the cheek outside her home.
The case drew widespread public attention following the global success of Squid Game, in which Oh Yeong Soo portrayed Player 001, Oh Il Nam.
Initial Conviction Overturned on Appeal
In the first trial, the court found Oh Yeong Soo guilty and sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
The ruling relied on several pieces of supporting evidence, including counseling records from a sexual violence support center, conversations the accuser had with an acquaintance, diary entries, and an apology message sent by the actor.
However, the appellate court later overturned that conviction, emphasizing that criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judges ruled that while there were circumstances that raised suspicion, the available evidence was insufficient to establish criminal guilt with certainty.
Court Identified Inconsistencies in the Evidence
One of the key issues involved inconsistencies regarding the timeline of the alleged incidents.
Counseling records indicated that the alleged hug and kiss occurred on the same day. However, when the criminal complaint was later filed, the accuser stated that the incidents happened on separate dates.
The appellate court concluded that these discrepancies weakened the reliability of the testimony.
The court also stated that the woman's recollection may have been influenced by distorted memories that developed over time.
Interpretation of the Alleged Hug
The appellate court also differed from the lower court in its interpretation of the alleged hug.
According to the ruling, there was reason to believe the woman had at least implicitly agreed after Oh Yeong Soo reportedly suggested they hug.
The court stated:
"The act of hugging itself appears to have been consensual."
It further explained that even if the embrace had been stronger than the woman expected, that fact alone did not satisfy the legal standard required to establish forcible molestation.
Insufficient Evidence Regarding the Alleged Kiss
Regarding the allegation that Oh Yeong Soo kissed the woman outside her residence, the appellate court found that prosecutors had failed to sufficiently corroborate the accusation.
The woman testified that she was entering her home's passcode when the motion-activated security light turned off before the alleged kiss occurred.
However, the court noted that investigators never verified how long the light remained on or whether the circumstances described were physically consistent with the allegation.
The judges concluded that prosecutors had not adequately established the credibility of the testimony through supporting evidence.
Court Also Rejected Interpretation of the Apology Message
The appellate court also rejected the argument that an apology message sent by Oh Yeong Soo should automatically be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
According to the ruling, the message could reasonably be understood as a broad attempt to resolve the conflict rather than an acknowledgment that criminal conduct had occurred.
Legal Proceedings Come to an End
With the Supreme Court dismissing the prosecution's final appeal, the appellate court's acquittal is now legally binding.
The decision officially concludes one of South Korea's most closely watched entertainment-related legal cases in recent years, ending all criminal proceedings against the veteran actor.