O Yeong-Su, known for his role in Squid Game, has been handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence for sexual misconduct by a South Korean court.
The 79-year-old actor was charged in 2022 with sexually assaulting a woman on two occasions. The assaults reportedly occurred in 2017 when O was staying in a rural area for a theatre performance.
According to reports from AFP, the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court announced the verdict. O has expressed his intention to appeal the decision within seven days.
Allegations against O included forcibly hugging a woman and kissing her on the cheek against her will, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
In addition to the sentence, O has been mandated to attend classes on sexual violence.
According to AFP, judge Jeong Yeon-ju said the victim’s records of the assault and her claims were “consistent … and appear to be statements that cannot be made without actually experiencing them”.
O Yeong-Su had denied the claims, which, according to the Suwon District Court, occurred on a walking path and in front of the victim’s residence.
The actor gained international fame after starring in Squid Game, a dystopian drama where contestants participate in deadly versions of traditional children’s games.
The series was a massive and unexpected hit on Netflix, attracting over 100 million viewers worldwide within weeks of its 2021 release. O became the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe the following year for his role as Oh Il-nam, the oldest participant in the competition.
The controversy surrounding the accusations led to O being dropped from an upcoming film in South Korea, as reported by Reuters.
Womenlink, a prominent feminist organisation, spoke to reporters shortly after the sentencing and said:
“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.”
Three people received medical treatment during filming of a real-life Squid Game show but “claims of serious injury are untrue”, Netflix said.
Based on the South Korean hit series, the game show is being filmed at Cardington Studios in Bedfordshire.
The streaming giant said three people were treated for “mild medical conditions”. “We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew,” Netflix said.
The show features 456 contestants vying for a $4.56m (£3.8m) prize.
A spokeswoman for Netflix said medics were on set at all times and that it had “invested in all the appropriate safety procedures”.
“While it was very cold on set – and participants were prepared for that – any claims of serious injury are untrue,” he said.
Squid Game has proved a massive hit for Netflix (Netflix)
The thriller series told the story of debt-ridden contestants competing for a huge cash prize in a deadly series of twisted children’s games.
It holds the record as Netflix’s most popular series of all time, and it was streamed by 111 million users in the first 28 days of its launch. A second series was announced in June.
The same month, Netflix also revealed plans for a 10-episode competition series, Squid Game: The Challenge, with the “largest cast and lump sum cash prize in reality TV history”.
The contestants – who have travelled to Bedfordshire from around the world – compete through a string of games inspired by the original show.
At the time of the announcement, Brandon Riegg, Netflix vice president of unscripted and documentary series, said: “Squid Game took the world by storm with Director Hwang’s captivating story and iconic imagery.
“We’re grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment.
“Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real-world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists.”
The East of England Ambulance Service said it had not attended any calls at the studios in recent days.
Netflix has responded to tabloid claims surrounding the production of its upcoming Squid Gamereality series spin-off.
As you may or may not have seen in recent days depending on your tolerance for articles of the tabloid variety, claims have surfaced regarding less-than-ideal conditions amid the series production in the U.K. British tabloids The Sun and The Mirror, for example, have both claimed that freezing temperatures during a round of Red Light, Green Light led to a contestant being taken away on a stretcher.
Worth pointing out again, of course, is that initial claims stemmed from the tabloid side of the universe. At any rate, Netflix and series co-producers Studio Lambert and The Garden have now addressed such claims. In a report shared early Wednesday, Deadline cited a statement from all three in which the “very cold” temperatures were acknowledged while more serious claims were repudiated.
Namely, the statement said, “any claims of serious injury are untrue.”
When reached for comment by Complex on Wednesday, a rep for Netflix shared the same excerpted statement in full. Read it below.
“We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew, and invested in all the appropriate safety procedures. While it was very cold on set – and participants were prepared for that – any claims of serious injury are untrue.”
Also on Wednesday, Variety (not a tabloid) shared a report stating that “fewer than five players” are alleged to have utilized medics on the set. One such contestant, according to their report, hurt their shoulder. The rest, allegedly, were treated for what was reported as “mild ailments.”
A source close to the production tells Complex that no one was taken off the set on a stretcher. Additionally, the source confirmed that one person did hurt their shoulder from running into a wall. Three others, meanwhile, were treated for “mild medical conditions.” There were no additional injuries on the set, the source added.
As previously revealed by Netflix, the reality competition spin-off will see 456 players entering the show with the potential of winning $4.56 million by competing in a series of games inspired by the hit series. In September, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk addressed “concerns” some had raised about the spin-off and revealed he had met with the some of the team behind the new Netflix project.
In Korea, award-winning “Squid Game” star O Yeong-su has been charged with sexual misconduct.
According to AFP, the 78-year-old was released without charge after being accused of inappropriately touching a woman’s body in 2017.
In December 2021, the woman filed a complaint against Yeong-su. The case was closed by police in April, but it was reopened after the alleged victim requested that it be investigated further.
According to the local Yonhap news agency, Yeong-su denied the allegations when questioned by authorities.
The actor — who won a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his breakout role as Oh Il-nam in the Netflix hit — has released a statement about the allegations.
“I just held her hand to guide the way around the lake,” O told Korean news broadcaster JTBC. “I apologized because [the person] said she wouldn’t make a fuss about it but it doesn’t mean that I admit the charges.”
O Yeong-su won a Golden Globe for his role on the Netflix smash megahit. Los Angeles Times via Getty Image
“Squid Game” stars Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo and Oh Yeong-soo in a scene from the Korean Netflix series. AP
An official from the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office told AFP that everything reported by local media about the veteran actor of more than 50 years “is not factually incorrect.”
The Korean ministry of culture also recently pulled a government TV commercial featuring Yeong-su off air after the indictment.
Meanwhile, the streamer’s highly popular survival drama is coming back for season two in the future.
This is thanks in large part to the arts, particularly music and movies, which allow people to share their cultures in the universal language of entertainment.
With the level of cultural integration today, Hollywood producers are no longer as skeptical to invest in movies that touch on themes and tropes outside of America, as they were a decade ago.
Following the production and or distribution of successful projects like Narcos, Squid Game, Parasite, and more, all of which are performed in their indigenous languages, it’s safe to say that Hollywood of late has no qualms with creating movies that stray far from its own conventions.
For Africa, Hollywood still remains skeptical, as the continent’s movie industry seems too young and inexperienced to handle big-budget movies that command funds of up to $100 million.
However, Africa is, in itself not too young to be emulated on the big screen. Hollywood has continuously borrowed from African cultures in both significant and subtle ways. The continent is rich in history and stories from here can compel any audience to be thoroughly engaged.
Despite this, Hollywood remains reluctant to shoot high-budget movies that are completely African, in their approach, production, and delivery.
Needless to say, there are some Hollywood blockbusters that were inspired by African culture and experience, and below are ten of the best, blueprints to what may evolve to Hollywood’s confidence in investing in big-budget African films.
This list was decided by cultural influence, cultural enlightenment, box office performance, engagement, and critical acclaim
Queen of Katwe
Queen of Katwe 2016 (10.4 million): A very beautiful tale about a Kenyan girl who escapes poverty with her talent for chess. This movie is a critical darling, with an IMDB score of 7.4/10 and a Rotten Tomatoes sum of 94%. In January of this year, it was reported that the real queen of Katwe, Phiona Mutesi, won a chess championship for her school in the the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championships
The Woman King
The Woman King 2022 ($50 million): A movie about the West African tribe of Dahomey, and the Agojie, warriors (an all female fighting unit), this film depicts the Agojie fighting for the freedom of its people, albeit the source material is a bit controversial.This movie is not only climbing up in its box office number, it is also a fairly high acclaimed movie with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 94%, and an IMDB rating of 6.3/10. The movie also did well to display the beauty of Africa’s tenacity, and is a favorite amongst fans.
Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda 2004 ($33.9 million): An uncomfortable journey to spectate, Paul Rusesabagina is a hotel manager, who saves the lives of many helpless refugees trapped in a brutal civil war. This movie is obviously a critical masterpiece as Rotten Tomatoes has it at 91%, while IMDB has it at 81./10, the highest ratings on this list.
The Mummy
The Mummy 1999 ($409 million): Not particularly the most critically acclaimed movie, and its reference to African culture is questionable at best, regardless this film manages to enthrall its audience as demonstrated by its box office success, and it does borrow from the age-old myth of resurrecting mummies. Its IMDB rating is 7.1/10, while its Rotten Tomatoes score is 61%.
Black hawk down
Black Hawk Down 2001 ($173 million): Arguably the most intense film on the list, Black Hawk Down is a story about US army rangers of around 100 personnel led by Mike Steele, who are on a mission to assassinate the two lieutenants of a brutal Somalian warlord, in the capital city of Mogadishu. These soldiers are stuck in a terrain they are unfamiliar with and are met with heavy fire from every angle. This movie has a fair IMDB rating of 7.7/10 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 77%.
Blood Diamond
Blood Diamond 2006 ($171.7 million): A deep dive into the damage the quest for Africa’s wealth has brought about. This film is an uncomfortable journey into the experiences of helpless Africans who get caught in-between its region’s wealth and greedy corporations. Set in 1999 Sierra Leone, a man is yanked from his family and forced to work in a mine where he discovers a very precious diamond, this discovery turns his life upside down, as he soon realizes the lengths people are willing to go to get their hands on the diamond. It almost goes without saying that such a powerful story would end up being highly critically acclaimed, however, its Rotten Tomatoes score is merely 63%, but its IMDB rating is 8/10.
Coming to America
Coming to America 1988 ($288 million): Most likely responsible for the narrative that all African royalties speak in heavy local English accents, this comedy classic will forever remain in the heart of comedy lovers in the 90s. The film follows Prince Akeem, the heir of the fictional kingdom of Zamunda, as he searches for love in Queens, New York. Its IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes ratings are 7.1/10 and 73% respectively.
Captain Philips
Captain Philips 2013 ($220 million): A nail-biting motion picture, this film does a great job of heightening one’s claustrophobia. When a ship captained by Richard Philips, and headed to Kenya is held hostage by Somalian pirates, the captain finds himself playing mediator so as he attempts to talk the pirates out of murdering the entire crew. The IMDB rating of this film sits at 7.8/10, while its Rotten Tomatoes score is 93%, the highest on this list.
The Black Panther
Black Panther 2018 ($1.344 billion): Set in the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda, a country blessed with the earth’s only vibranium reserve, this film centers around a warrior prince, blessed with superpowers from the Egyptian Panther God Bast. It is not only one of the highest grossing movies of all time, but also a film who’s major selling point is the African themed cultures displayed in the movie. The movie set a huge trend after its opening and had little Caucasian children wishing they were African. Rotten Tomatoes has this movie at 96% and IMDB has it at 7.3/10.
The Lion King
The Lion King 1994 ($1 billion): Arguably the biggest movie to draw inspiration from Africa, this all-time classic follows the journey of Simba, a lion who is deceived into thinking he is responsible for his father’s death. This is another movie on this list with one of the most commanding box office performances ever, with its franchise earning around $3 billion in total. The 2019 remake grossed $1.66 billion alone. Rotten Tomatoes puts this movie at 93% and IMDB scores it 8.5/10. Also, there is great satisfaction in knowing that such a beautiful story is set in the Savanna plains of Africa.
