South Korea is known for its glorious entertainment industry, supported by talented actors and actresses capable of delivering exceptional acting quality. It is no wonder that many of them are considered to have made a significant contribution to the film industry and become an inspiration for many people. However, behind their success and popularity, there are several male actors who have been involved in serious scandals, especially related to sexual harassment cases. Who are the actors involved in these cases?
South Korea's entertainment industry places its actors as influential public figures, with widespread popularity even on the international stage. However, behind the fame, their private lives often become the center of attention, where even the slightest mistake can trigger harsh reactions. Some actors have even stumbled upon serious scandals involving allegations of sexual harassment.
Here are 5 South Korean actors who have been involved in sexual harassment scandals:
1. O Yeong Su
According to Deadline, in March 2024, veteran actor O Yeong-su, widely known for his role in Squid Game, was sentenced to probation for allegations of sexual harassment that occurred in 2017. The Seongnam Branch Court in Suwon District imposed an eight-month prison sentence with a two-year probation, and required O to attend a 40-hour rehabilitation program for sexual offenders. The ruling was based on the victim's testimony, which was deemed to align with the existing evidence, including diary entries and counseling reports made after the incident.
The case originated from allegations that O Yeong-su, who is now 80 years old, hugged and kissed a woman on the cheek without her consent during a performance tour in 2017. Although he denied the allegations, the court affirmed that the victim's testimony was coherent and unlikely to have been fabricated.
As quoted from Korea Times, O Yeong-su later appealed against the decision in August 2024, arguing that the imposed sentence was too severe. This case continues to attract public attention, especially given O's status as a senior actor with a career spanning over five decades. He also won the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role on TV at the Golden Globe Awards 2022 for his role in Squid Game, a Netflix original series that gained worldwide fame.
2. Yoo Ah In
The alleged sexual harassment case involving actor Yoo Ah-in in 2024 was ultimately dropped by the Yongsan Police Station, Seoul, due to insufficient evidence. As reported by Allkpop, previously, a man in his 30s identified as 'A' reported Yoo for alleged rape that occurred on July 14 in an apartment in Yongsan District.
Under the prevailing law in South Korea, this case was categorized as "imitative rape" because it involved a same-sex victim. However, after further investigation, including questioning Yoo on August 28, the police decided not to pursue the case due to the lack of substantial evidence, with the announcement made on September 19, 2024.
Yoo Ah-in's legal representative, Bang Jung-hyun, has consistently denied all allegations directed at his client from the outset and urged the public not to speculate about the actor's private life. With the discontinuation of this case, Yoo Ah-in's name in this sexual harassment scandal was legally cleared.
Despite being cleared of the allegations, Yoo Ah-in's image remains tarnished due to another case involving drug abuse, resulting in a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 2 million won (approximately $25,000), as well as the seizure of assets worth 1.54 million won, as reported by Koreajoongangdaily.
3. Park Yoochun
Referring to Soompi, in 2016, actor Park Yoochun was reported by four women for alleged sexual harassment, but was later acquitted of all charges due to insufficient evidence. One of the accusers, referred to as 'A,' was instead countersued for defamation and false accusations. However, after two trials, A was found not guilty, and the Supreme Court rejected the prosecution's appeal.
In 2018, A filed a civil lawsuit against Park Yoochun, demanding compensation of 100 million won (approximately $90,000). The court ultimately ordered Park Yoochun to pay 50 million won (about $45,000) in mandatory mediation in July 2019, but he did not immediately fulfill this obligation.
After facing detention hearings in April 2020, Park Yoochun finally completed the compensation payment in two installments on December 31, 2020, and January 31, 2021, totaling 56 million won (approximately $50,000), including late payment interest. An official statement regarding this settlement was released on February 3, 2021 by A's lawyer, emphasizing that despite Park Yoochun's apology and payment of damages, the victim still suffered harassment from some of his fans. This case became one of the major scandals that tarnished Park Yoochun's image in South Korea's entertainment industry.
4. Kang Ji Hwan
In 2019, actor Kang Ji-hwan became embroiled in a major scandal after being arrested for alleged sexual harassment of two women. As cited from Korea Times, initially, he denied the allegations, claiming not to remember the incidents, but later confessed during police questioning. The incident occurred on July 9 at his home in Gwangju, where he was suspected of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another after they had drinks together. Both victims were employees of a subcontractor company working for his agency and had fallen asleep at his home at the time of the incidents.
As a result of this scandal, his contract with Huayibrothers Korea was terminated just two months after they began working together, and he was removed from the drama Joseon Survival, which was still in the process of airing at the time. Following legal proceedings, Kang was sentenced to three years in prison with a five-year probation, meaning he would be imprisoned if he committed a similar offense during the probation period.
5. Lee Jin Wook
In 2016, actor Lee Jin-wook faced allegations of sexual harassment from a woman in her 30s. As reported by Korea Times, this case attracted public attention after the woman reported Lee to the police on July 14, claiming that the incident occurred two days earlier after they had drinks together at her apartment.
However, after further investigation, the Suseo police revealed that the woman eventually admitted that the allegations were false. The police stated that no evidence supporting the sexual harassment case was found, and upon reviewing her statement, she confessed to making a false report.
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