The Suwon District Court’s Seongnam branch reportedly sentenced famous “Squid Game” actor Oh Yeong-su to an eight-month prison term, Friday, on sexual harassment charges.
The 79-year-old actor was convicted in a case dating back to 2017, after being charged with two counts of sexual harassment, according to Reuters. Oh Yeong-su reportedly continued to claim his innocence, even after his sentence was read aloud. He told reporters he planned to appeal the decision, the outlet reported. He has seven days to appeal the ruling, or it will be upheld in accordance with the law, according to Reuters.
Oh Yeong-su attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images
South Korean actor O Yeong-su attends Netflix’s “Squid Game” Los Angeles FYSEE Special Event at Netflix FYSEE at Raleigh Studios on June 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images
The actor was found guilty of hugging and kissing a woman on the cheek in a nonconsensual manner, according to People.
During the trial, Oh Yeong-Su admitted to holding the woman’s hand to guide her, but denied all other allegations made against him, JTBC News reported. Judge Jeong Yeon-ju made reference to the alleged victim’s diary as evidence and said her claims were “consistent … and appear to be statements that cannot be made without actually experiencing them,” according to People.
Officials said the actor was handed a suspended prison sentence, and was ordered to attend 40 hours in a sexual violence treatment course, according to Reuters.
Oh Yeong-su attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images
Prosecutors previously sought a sentence of one year in prison, Reuters reported.
Oh Yeong-Su won a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actor in television for his role in “Squid Game,” in 2022, and made history as the first South Korean to win in that category, according to People. (RELATED: Drake Bell Details Alleged Sexual Assault By Nickelodeon Representative)
He played the elderly character Oh II-nam, one of the main antagonists.
The legal matter forced the actor to drop out of an upcoming South Korean film role, according to Reuters.