Actor Oh Young Soo, 81, who was previously convicted of sexual assault and given a suspended sentence in the first trial, has been acquitted on appeal.
On November 11, the 6-1 Criminal Appeals Division of the Suwon District Court, presided over by Judges Kwak Hyung Seob, Kim Eun Jung, and Kang Hee Kyung, overturned the original verdict and declared him not guilty.
Oh was indicted without detention in November 2022 for allegedly hugging and kissing a junior female theater troupe member on the cheek in 2017 during a regional tour. In March of last year, the lower court sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, along with 40 hours of mandatory sexual violence education. Both sides appealed.
The appellate court ruled that while the victim reluctantly accepted the hug, it was nonetheless consensual, and the unclear intensity of the act made it insufficient to constitute sexual assault.
The court added that although the victim sought counseling months later and shared her account with colleagues, the defendant’s apology and the potential for memory distortion over time created reasonable doubt.
Applying the principle of giving the defendant the benefit of the doubt, the court found Oh not guilty. After the verdict, Oh expressed his appreciation to the court for what he called a wise and fair judgment.
The victim, identified as A, strongly opposed the court’s verdict, calling it deeply unjust. Through the Korean Women’s Association, she denounced the ruling as shockingly unrealistic and said it reinforces the systemic structures that perpetuate sexual violence. She urged the judiciary to reflect on the societal message such a verdict sends.
A asserted that a not guilty ruling cannot erase the truth or the pain she endured and vowed not to remain silent as sexual violence continues within the cultural and artistic fields. Despite her disappointment, she expressed renewed determination to keep speaking out for justice, emphasizing that the case extends beyond her personal suffering and represents a larger struggle for truth.
She also appealed for continued public attention and courage to build a world where victims can safely share their experiences. Oh, who gained global fame as Oh Il Nam in Netflix’s Squid Game, earning the nickname Grandpa Ganbu, became the first Korean actor to win the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in Television.
Following the allegations, he was completely removed from the completed film The Big Family and received a suspension from KBS in May of last year.
