‘Squid Game’ actor convicted of sexual misconduct, banned from TV

Screencap from Netflix Asia/YouTube

Player No. 001 from the globally acclaimed series “Squid Game,” actor O Yeong-su, has been prohibited from playing the game and appearing on South Korean television channel KBS following his sexual misconduct conviction.

The 79-year-old actor, who garnered international fame and a Golden Globe award for his role as Oh Il-nam, faced accusations of harassment in December 2021, with the case reaching prosecutors by February 2022.

According to South Korean media reports, as shared by Inquirer.net in 2022, the allegations became public in November 2022 when the complainant, identified as “A,” accused O Yeong-su of forced harassment and demanded an apology from the actor. Despite the gravity of the claims, O Yeong-su denied any wrongdoing.

However, the reports added that the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in a series did acknowledge that he had taken a walk with the victim and visited her residence, though he maintained his innocence regarding the harassment allegations. Dissatisfied with his response, the victim proceeded to file an official complaint.

After thorough legal proceedings, the court issued a verdict on March 15, sentencing O Yeong-su to eight years of suspended jail time and two years of probation. In addition to this, he was mandated to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program, underscoring the court’s commitment to addressing such serious allegations comprehensively.

Following the court’s ruling, KBS acted swiftly. The Broadcasting Appearance Regulation Review Committee, initially recommending a “refrain from appearing” stance, upgraded its decision to a full “suspension” as of May 13. This announcement, obtained from Star News, was made public by KBS on May 28.

KBS’ decision means that O Yeong-su is now barred from participating in any of its programs. Moreover, in adherence to South Korean media regulations, any pre-existing footage of the actor will be altered, ensuring his complete removal from broadcast content.

The “Squid Game” actor was once nominated for the outstanding supporting actor award in the Primetime Emmy Awards.