O Yeong-su, who played the mysterious player 001 in the Netflix hit series Squid Game, has been sentenced to one year in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in 2017.
The 79-year-old actor, who won a Golden Globe for his role in the show, was accused of touching and kissing the victim without her consent while they were hiking together. The victim, who filed a complaint against him in 2021, said he apologized to her via text message and said she was like a daughter to him.
The Trial and the Verdict
O Yeong-su denied the charges and pleaded not guilty in court. He said he was in pain and misery to face such accusations at his age and that his whole life had fallen apart. His lawyers argued that there was no evidence to support the victim’s claims and that she was motivated by money and fame.
However, the prosecutors said he avoided his responsibility and made the victim frustrated by not sincerely apologizing to her. They also said he posed a risk to minors and asked the court to ban him from working with children. On February 2, the Seongnam branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office sentenced him to one year in jail and ordered him to undergo 40 hours of sexual violence education. The case will be heard again on March 15, 2024.
The Impact on Squid Game
O Yeong-su’s conviction comes as Squid Game, the most-watched series on Netflix, is gearing up for its second season. The show, which revolves around a deadly game involving hundreds of debt-ridden participants, has been a global phenomenon and has won critical acclaim and awards.
O Yeong-su played Oh Il-nam, the oldest and seemingly frail player in the game, who turned out to be the mastermind behind the whole scheme. His character was a major twist in the plot and a shock for the fans. He shared the screen with Lee Jung-jae, who played the protagonist Seong Gi-hun, and Park Hae-soo, who played his friend and rival Cho Sang-woo.
On February 1, Netflix released the first look images and a teaser for the second season, which showed Lee Jung-jae’s character ready to unleash his anger and take revenge on the people behind the game. It is not clear how O Yeong-su’s character will be involved in the new season or how his legal troubles will affect the production of the show.
The news of O Yeong-su’s imprisonment has sparked mixed reactions from the fans and the public. Some have expressed disappointment and anger at his actions, while others have shown sympathy and support for him. Some have also questioned the credibility and fairness of the trial and the verdict.
Squid Game Season 2 is expected to premiere on Netflix later this year.
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