Veteran Korean actor Oh Young-soo (81), best known worldwide as the beloved “Gganbu Grandpa” from Squid Game, has been found not guilty in his appeal trial, overturning an earlier conviction related to alleged inappropriate conduct.
The Appeal Verdict
On November 11, the Suwon High Court’s Criminal Division 6-1 (Judges Kwak Hyung-seop, Kim Eun-jung, and Kang Hee-kyung) reversed the lower court’s verdict and declared Oh innocent. The court cited insufficient evidence to uphold the original decision.
Oh was previously accused of making unwanted physical contact with a woman in 2017. After an initial police review ended without charges, the case was later reopened by prosecutors. In March 2024, a district court had sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, but both Oh and the prosecution appealed.
Throughout the proceedings, Oh maintained his innocence, calling the situation “a one-sided claim.” Following his acquittal, he stated,
“I respect the court’s not-guilty ruling,”
while the plaintiff’s representatives expressed disagreement.
Global Star Turned Quiet Figure
Oh Young-soo gained international fame for his emotional performance as Oh Il-nam, the elderly player 001 in Netflix’s Squid Game (2021). The role earned him the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 79th Golden Globes, making him the first Korean actor ever to win in that category.
Since the allegations surfaced, he stepped back from all acting and public activities. With this new ruling, industry watchers are curious whether the veteran performer will finally return to the screen after years of silence.