[Sportschosun, Reporter Kim Soo-hyun] Actor Oh Young-soo, who drew global attention for his role as the "grandfather friend" in Netflix's series "Squid Game," has received a final acquittal on indecent assault charges.
According to the legal community on the 26th, the Supreme Court Third Division, presided over by Justice Oh Seok-jun, rejected the Prosecutors' Office's appeal in the case against Oh Young-soo, who had been indicted on indecent assault charges. As a result, the acquittal handed down by the appeals court was upheld.
Oh Young-soo was indicted in 2022 for allegedly making two physical contacts in the summer of 2017, when he was in Daegu for a performance of the play "King Lear." The charges stated that he hugged a female troupe member, who was a junior colleague, on a walking path and later kissed her on the cheek near the victim's residence.
During the investigation and trial, Oh Young-soo admitted that he had held the woman's hand, but consistently denied the charges, saying he had no intention of committing indecent assault.
The trial court in the first instance found the victim's testimony credible. It sentenced Oh Young-soo to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.
At the time, the court said the victim's testimony largely matched objective evidence, including counseling records and diary entries.
The appeals court, however, reached a different conclusion. It pointed out that parts of the victim's testimony had changed during the investigation and trial, saying it could not rule out the possibility that her memory had been altered over time. The court also said the physical contact at the time alone was not enough to conclude that it constituted criminal indecent assault, overturning the lower court's ruling and issuing an acquittal.
After the acquittal, Oh Young-soo's side said it was "grateful for the court's decision," while the victim's side expressed strong regret and protested the ruling.
The Prosecutors' Office appealed the appeals court ruling, citing legal errors and other grounds, but the Supreme Court did not accept the appeal. The nearly four-year legal battle ended with Oh Young-soo's acquittal being finalized.
Meanwhile, Oh Young-soo gained fame for appearing in Netflix's drama "Squid Game" as the "grandfather friend." He later became the first Korean actor to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Television in January 2022.
shyun@sportschosun.com
