“Squid Game” Star Refutes Sexual Assault Allegation, Issues Statement on Mutual Consent
Oh Dal Soo breaks silence amid sexual misconduct claims.
The actor returned to the spotlight after staying quiet for a month following allegations linked to the #MeToo movement.
Oh Dal Soo is known for his role as Sea Captain Park in Squid Game Season 2, where he helped main characters uncover the deadly game’s secrets. Despite his recent fame, controversy caught up with him due to past accusations of sexual harassment and assault.
In an exclusive interview with Edaily in Busan, Oh Dal Soo explained why he stayed silent at first.
He admitted feeling confused and scared that any rushed statements could be misunderstood or twisted by the media.
“I believe that, regardless of the situation, it is right to present a clear, accurate, and prompt position. However, when I suddenly became the subject of the Me Too movement, it was very confusing. I was afraid that even a single word spoken carelessly might be reported prematurely.
I would like to once again apologize to the two women. However, I am not a rapist or a sexual offender. I have not lived that way. If there were women who were hurt in relationships with me during my immature twenties, I want to apologize for that alone and reproach my younger self. But I cannot accept living my entire life labeled a “rapist” based on the words of those two individuals.”
Oh Dal Soo emphasized he does not view himself as a rapist or sexual offender.
He admitted if any women were hurt by him in his youth, he wants to apologize and reflect on those mistakes.
“I believe that when a man and a woman engage in a sexual relationship, their intentions may not always completely align. The greater that difference is, the more it can be considered sexual assault. If a woman who was in a relationship with me remembers that experience as painful, then I believe it is right to apologize first, without hesitation.”
The controversy began in 2018 when an actress accused Oh Dal Soo of sexual harassment. He initially denied it but later admitted to sexual harassment after more accusers spoke out on JTBC Newsroom.
Since then, the actor paused his career and moved to Geoje Island to focus on farming. Legal action was not pursued because the statute of limitations had expired—the alleged incidents date back to the 1990s.
