Oh Yeong-su, who won a Golden Globe for his performance in Netflix’s “Squid Game,” was found guilty of sexual misconduct by a South Korean court on Friday.
According to the New York Times, a district court judge in the city of Seongnam ruled that Oh was guilty of inappropriately touching an actress in 2017, including hugging her, holding her hand and kissing her cheek.
The 79-year-old Oh must serve an eight-month suspended sentence and take 40 hours of sexual violence classes. Oh has denied the charges and, according to the Times, told prosecutors on Friday that he plans to appeal the verdict.
Oh was initially charged in 2022 after a complaint was filed by an actress alleging that he inappropriately touched her. Judge Jeong Yeon-ju, who presided over the case, said that the actress received sexual violence counseling in 2018, but the success of “Squid Game” in 2021 prompted her to demand an apology from Oh.
Though Oh did apologize, he said in a statement to Korean broadcaster JTBC at the time: “I just held her hand to guide the way around the lake. I apologized because [the person] said she wouldn’t make a fuss about it but it doesn’t mean that I admit the charges.”
Oh portrayed Player No. 001 in the mega-popular “Squid Game,” a second season of which is coming this year. Oh is not involved in Season 2. With his Golden Globe win, Oh became the first South Korean to win the award. He was also nominated for an Emmy in 2022 for supporting actor in a drama series.
Netflix did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
