‘Squid Game’ Actor Oh Young-soo Faces 1-Year Sentence in Appeal: “My Life Feels Destroyed”

Veteran actor Oh Young-soo (81), who rose to global fame for his role in Squid Game, has been re-prosecuted with a one-year prison sentence in his appeal trial for indecent assault.

During a sentencing hearing held on April 3 at the Suwon District Court, prosecutors stated, “This veteran actor, with nearly 50 years in the theater world, committed sexual misconduct against a powerless trainee. The victim continues to live in fear in both her workplace and daily life.”

The prosecution requested the same sentence as in the first trial: one year in prison.

The victim's legal representative added, “When the victim asked for an apology, the defendant only said, ‘I did it with a fatherly heart,’ causing further emotional harm. Her statements have been consistent and credible since the initial complaint. A proper sentence is necessary to support the victim's recovery and prevent similar crimes.”

Defense Denies Charges, Disputes Victim’s Statement

Oh’s legal team continued to deny all charges, arguing that the victim’s statement lacked consistency and did not match the objective circumstances.

“The only evidence supporting the prosecution’s case is the victim’s testimony, which lacks specificity, consistency, and plausibility,” the defense stated. As for the apology text message that was seen as a key piece of evidence in the first trial, the defense explained:

“At the time, Oh was gaining attention from 'Squid Game' and was suddenly pressured to apologize. He sent the message simply to avoid harming the production team—not as an admission of guilt.”

Oh Young-soo: “I’m Ashamed to Stand in Court at This Age”

In his final statement, Oh said, “At my age, standing in court is shameful. If my words or actions were wrong, I will accept the consequences.” However, he maintained his innocence, adding, “Even looking back now, I truly don’t believe my actions amounted to harassment.”

He continued, “If my careless behavior during a brief interaction caused pain, I regret it. But it's heartbreaking that a life I’ve built over 80 years feels destroyed in an instant. I just want to return to my place.”

Background: Acclaimed Actor Now Facing Trial

Oh Young-soo gained international acclaim for his role as “the old man” (Player 001, also known as "Gganbu Grandpa") in Netflix’s Squid Game, and even won Best Supporting Actor in a Television Role at the Golden Globe Awards in 2022.

However, in November 2022, he was indicted without detention on charges of indecently assaulting a female theater troupe member, referred to as "Ms. A". Ms. A alleged that in the summer of 2017, Oh forcibly hugged her during a walk and kissed her in front of his house. Oh has denied the allegations.

In the first trial, he was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. The verdict for the appeal trial is scheduled for June 3 at 2:00 PM (KST).

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