Oh Young-soo Acquitted of Sexual Assault Charges by South Korean Supreme Court

Oh Young-soo, the actor known for his role in Netflix's Squid Game, has been acquitted of sexual assault charges by South Korea's Supreme Court. The court's decision follows an appellate ruling that overturned his initial conviction. The allegations stemmed from an incident in 2017, but the appeals court found inconsistencies in the victim's testimony. This ruling marks a significant moment in the actor's career, who has also received accolades for his performance in the series. Discover more about the details of the case and Oh Young-soo's achievements in this article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 26, 2026, 19:06 IST

Oh Young-soo's Legal Victory

Oh Young-soo, renowned for his portrayal of Player 001, or Oh Il-nam, in Netflix's hit series Squid Game, has been cleared of sexual assault allegations by the Supreme Court of South Korea. The court dismissed the prosecution's appeal following an appellate court's decision to overturn his initial guilty verdict and acquit him. The actor had consistently denied the accusations made by a female member of a theater group, who claimed he forcibly embraced and kissed her on the cheek outside her residence. This incident reportedly took place in 2017, leading to his indictment in November 2022.

Supreme Court's Final Ruling

Actor Oh Young-soo formally acquitted by Supreme Court in Korea

As reported by various Korean media outlets, the veteran actor has received a definitive acquittal regarding the indecent assault charges. On June 26, Justice Oh Seok-jun of the Supreme Court's Third Division rejected the Prosecutors' Office's appeal against the 81-year-old actor, thereby upholding the acquittal previously granted by the appellate court in November 2025.

Initially, during the first trial, Oh Young-soo was convicted and sentenced to eight months in prison, although his sentence was suspended for two years, along with a requirement to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program. The court had deemed the victim's testimony credible, supported by evidence such as counseling records and diary entries. Both the actor and the prosecution appealed the ruling, with the latter seeking a one-year prison sentence during the appellate process.

Details of the Allegations

What were the indecent assault charges against Oh Young-soo?

In the summer of 2017, while performing in Daegu in a production of Shakespeare's King Lear, a junior female colleague accused Oh Young-soo of hugging her and kissing her on the cheek along a walking path near her home. He was indicted on charges related to this physical contact in 2022.

After the initial trial, the appeals court reached a significantly different conclusion. It noted that the victim's testimony appeared to have changed during the proceedings, suggesting that her memory might have been affected over time. The appeals court overturned the lower court's conviction, asserting that the physical contact did not meet the threshold for criminal indecent assault.

Oh Young-soo's Achievements

Oh Young-soo's accolades for Squid Game

In January 2022, Oh Young-soo made history as the first Korean actor to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in Television for his role in the acclaimed survival thriller. He also received a nomination for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the first season. His character meets a tragic end in the final episode of Squid Game Season 1.