South Korea SC upholds O Yeong-su acquittal

The Supreme Court of South Korea has upheld the acquittal of Squid Game actor O Yeong-su in a sexual harassment case, bringing an end to a legal battle that lasted for more than three years.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the top court on Friday dismissed the prosecution’s appeal and upheld the lower court’s decision that cleared the 82-year-old actor of the charges.

O, as per the agency, was indicted without detention in 2022 over allegations that he hugged a woman and kissed her on the cheek without her consent during a regional theatre tour in 2017.

A district court had earlier sentenced the actor to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. However, the appellate court later overturned the verdict and acquitted him. According to Yonhap News Agency, while delivering its judgement, the appeals court said O may have committed sexual assault but cleared him of the charges, saying there was reasonable doubt and that the benefit of that doubt should go to the defendant.