Misbehaved with actress; 79-year-old 'Squid Game' actor sentenced to prison

SEOUL: Actor O Yeong-Su, who is known across the globe for his role in 'Squid Game', has been convicted of sexual misconduct over allegations that he misbehaved with an actress in 2017.

According to reports, O was sentenced to up to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, by the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court.

The 79-year-old was charged in 2022 over allegations that he hugged a woman and kissed her on the cheek in 2017. However, he denied the charges.

After leaving the court on Friday, he told reporters that he would appeal the ruling, which included attending a 40-hour sexual offender treatment program.

O has previously said he held the woman's hand to guide her around a 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," he said.

O has been in the business of showbiz for over five decades but his role in Netflix's show 'Squid Game' drew him global fame and acclaim. The series series depicts a dark world where marginalised individuals are forced to compete in deadly versions of traditional children's games.