O Yeong-su, the 80-year-old actor who won hearts as Player 001 in Squid Game, has been sentenced to one year in prison for sexual assault—marking a stunning downfall for the Emmy-winning star.
The charges stem from a 2017 incident where he was accused of forcibly hugging and kissing a woman. Prosecutors painted him as a veteran actor who “took advantage of a vulnerable theater troupe member,” while the victim reportedly lived in fear ever since. Instead of apologizing, O Yeong-su allegedly worsened the situation by saying, “I did it with a fatherly heart.”
His defense argued that the accusations surfaced only after his Squid Game fame, claiming the case lacked solid evidence. However, the court rejected his appeal, upgrading his initial probationary sentence to a full year in prison.
In court, the actor expressed regret, saying,
“My 80-year life was destroyed in an instant. I feel empty—I just want to go back to my place.”
The final ruling on his appeal is set for June 3, sealing the fate of the Squid Game icon in one of K-drama’s biggest scandals.
