Squid Game actor Oh Young-soo faces 1 year in jail for allegedly groping, kissing woman
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Squid Game actor Oh Young-soo reportedly denied any wrongdoing during investigations.
PHOTO: NETFLIX
Sherlyn Sim
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South Korean prosecutors have requested a one-year jail term for Squid Game actor Oh Young-soo for sexually harassing a woman in 2017, Korean media reported on Feb 2.
The 79-year-old actor, best known for starring as Player 001 Oh Il-nam in the Netflix smash hit Squid Game, was indicted on charges of sexual misconduct
The case dates back to December 2021, when a woman filed a complaint against Oh with the police.
She said that Oh, then a member of a theatre troupe, groped and kissed her on the cheek without her permission during a performance tour, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.
South Korean police had initially dismissed the case in April 2022 but reopened it at the woman’s request.
During a final trial on Feb 2, the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office sought a one-year jail term for Oh, and to restrict him from working with children and young people.
The office said: “He avoided his responsibility, saying the victim was ‘like a daughter to him’, though the victim asked for an apology, making the victim frustrated.”
Oh reportedly denied the charges during investigations, according to the Korea Herald.
“It’s so painful and hard to stand in this court at this age like this,” said Oh.
“It is miserable for the last chapter of my life to end in such a way, making my whole life fall apart.”
Oh’s attorney argued that little evidence, apart from the woman’s testimony, was available at the moment.
Oh’s case is set to be heard again on March 15.
In 2022, Oh became the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe award.
He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 74th Emmy Awards
