South Korean actor O Yeong-su, best known for playing the grandpa “Player 001” in Netflix’s global hit Squid Game, has been acquitted of sexual misconduct charges following a lengthy legal battle.

The allegations dated back to the summer of 2017, when the veteran actor was touring with a theater production. A younger female colleague, identified only as “A,” accused him of hugging her inappropriately and kissing her on the cheek without consent. Prosecutors charged him in 2022 with two counts of forcible sexual misconduct. O was found guilty in 2024 and received an eight-month suspended prison sentence.

However, the appellate court reached a dramatic reversal this year, ruling that the evidence did not clearly prove coercion and that the complainant’s memory might have become unreliable over time. The judges emphasized the presumption of innocence, declaring O Yeong-su not guilty. Throughout the proceedings, O Yeong-su denied any wrongdoing. He acknowledged apologizing to the woman but claimed it was not an admission of guilt. Speaking after the verdict, the actor said: “My 80 years of life collapsed in an instant. Please allow me to return to where I once stood.”

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