South Korean star of ‘Squid Game’ accused of assault

A SEPTUAGENARIAN star of the Netflix phenomenon Squid Game has been charged with sexual misconduct.

In January, O Yeong-su, 78, became the first South Korean to win a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in a series.

He was recognised for his performance as a seemingly vulnerable old man in the dystopian production.

Prosecutors charged the veteran actor for allegedly improperly touching a woman’s body in 2017, the AFP news agency reported. He was not detained.

In a statement the actor told the South Korean broadcaster JTBC: “I just held her hand to guide the way around the lake.”

Squid Game became a worldwide sensation last year, Netflix’s most popular launch ever, attracting 111 million viewers in less than four weeks.

People compete against each other in deadly versions of traditional children’s games.

O began acting in 1967 and is a respected stage actor in South Korea, having appeared in 200 productions.