GOLDEN GLOBE WINER O YEONG-SU JAILED

O Yeong Su in Squid Game

 O Yeong-su, the 80-year-old actor who charmed global audiences as Player 001 in Netflix's Squid Game, will now trade his red-carpet appearances for a prison cell. A South Korean court has upheld his sexual assault conviction, increasing his original eight-month suspended sentence to a full year behind bars. 

The allegations stem from 2017, when the veteran theatre performer was accused of forcibly embracing and kissing a junior colleague near his home. Prosecutors painted a damning picture during April's appeal hearing, describing how the victim endured years of workplace terror. "She's suffered both professionally and personally since the incident," they stated, condemning O's bizarre justification that his actions came "from a fatherly heart" as adding insult to injury. 

The defence team fought vigorously to clear the Squid Game star's name, attacking the case as "built entirely on inconsistent testimony." They suggested the timing of the complaint — coinciding with O's Golden Globe win in 2022 — reeked of opportunism. "My client only engaged formally to protect the show's reputation," argued his lawyer, referencing the cultural phenomenon that made O the first Korean actor to claim the prestigious award. 

Judges remained unconvinced. Noting the accuser's unwavering account across multiple investigations, they deemed a custodial sentence necessary both for justice and deterrence. The final gavel falls on June 3, when the appeal verdict becomes official — potentially capping a 50-year career with prison bars rather than curtain calls. 

For a man who played survival games on screen, this real-life verdict marks a devastating loss. As the entertainment world reels from yet another #MeToo reckoning, O's case serves as a stark reminder: no amount of talent or trophies excuses abuse of power.