The 79-year-old was accused in 2022 of committing sexual assault against a woman on two occasions.
According to the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court, the assaults occurred five years ago while O was residing in a rural area for a theatre performance in 2017, as reported by AFP.
O has stated his intention to appeal the verdict and has a seven-day window to do so.
According to the Yonhap news agency, there were allegations that he engaged in unwanted physical contact with a woman by hugging her and kissing her on the cheek.
According to reports, O has been mandated to participate in classes on sexual violence.
As per AFP, Judge Jeong Yeon-ju stated that the victim’s records of the assault and her claims were deemed consistent and appeared to be firsthand accounts.
O had refuted the allegations that, as per the Suwon District Court, occurred on a pedestrian path and in front of the victim’s home.
The actor gained worldwide recognition for their role in Squid Game, a dystopian drama where participants engage in lethal adaptations of classic childhood games.
This Netflix show quickly became a global sensation, captivating over 100 million viewers worldwide in just a few weeks after its release in 2021.
In the following year, O achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first South Korean actor to win a prestigious Golden Globe. This well-deserved recognition was bestowed upon him for his exceptional portrayal of Oh Il-nam, the oldest participant in the competition.
According to Reuters, the controversy surrounding the accusations against O resulted in his removal from an upcoming film in South Korea.
Womenlink, a well-respected feminist organization, addressed reporters shortly after the sentencing:
“Now we can say that the sexual violence in the theatre is not an old custom but sexual violence. The accused must stop trying to make his assault go away, apologise to the victim and accept his mistake.”
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