Squid Recreation actor O Yeong-su convicted of sexual harassment – The Guardian

The 79-year-old actor who gained a Golden Globe for his function as Oh II-nam on the hit Netflix present has been handed a suspended jail sentence
The South Korean actor O Yeong-su, who starred within the first season of the hit Netflix sequence Squid Recreation, was convicted on Friday on prices of sexual harassment and handed a suspended jail sentence, a courtroom official mentioned.
The Seongnam department of the Suwon district courtroom sentenced O to eight months in jail, suspended for 2 years, in addition to 40 hours of attendance at a sexual violence remedy programme, the courtroom official mentioned by phone.
The 79-year-old actor, who was charged with two counts of sexual harassment in 2017, had denied the accusations.
As he was leaving the courtroom, O advised reporters he deliberate to attraction in opposition to the choice. He has seven days to attraction or the ruling will probably be upheld.
He was accused of inappropriately touching a feminine actor, together with hugging her, holding her hand and kissing her cheek. He had beforehand mentioned he held the girl’s hand whereas guiding her round a lake. “I apologised as a result of [the person] mentioned she wouldn’t make a fuss about it nevertheless it doesn’t imply that I admit the costs,” he mentioned.
O was indicted in 2022 and prosecutors had beforehand sought a sentence of 1 12 months in jail, in response to media studies.
Womenlink, a ladies’s rights group in South Korea, welcomed the ruling and urged O to apologise to the sufferer.
“The defendant resembles different offenders of sexual violence in theatre previously who tried to cowl up their sexual violence as ‘favour’ and ‘friendship’,” the group mentioned in a publish on X.
O gained finest supporting actor in tv on the Golden Globes for his function in Squid Recreation in 2022, changing into the primary South Korean to grab the award.
He performed the aged character Oh II-nam, one of many principal antagonists of the primary season.
The controversy over the accusations of sexual harassment noticed him dropping out of an upcoming movie in South Korea.
Info and help for anybody affected by rape or sexual abuse points is accessible from the next organisations. Within the US, Rainn provides help on 800-656-4673. Within the UK, Rape Crisis provides help on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, help is accessible at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Different worldwide helplines may be discovered at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html.

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