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Oh Dal-Su, Captain Park in Squid Game 2, addressed #MeToo allegations from 2018, apologized but denied being a rapist.
Oh Dal-Su was Captain Park in Squid Game 2.
South Korean actor Oh Dal-Su, known internationally for his role in Squid Game Season 2, has spoken publicly about sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced during the #MeToo movement. Though he was cleared of charges in 2019, the actor has now addressed the controversy in a detailed interview, stating he cannot accept being labelled a rapist.
The allegations first emerged in February 2018, when a woman accused Oh of abuse dating back to the 1990s, during his early years in theatre. At the time, he initially denied the claims. However, after additional accusations were raised, including by actress Uhm Ji-Young on JTBC’s Newsroom regarding an alleged incident in 2003, Oh admitted to sexual harassment and issued an apology to the women involved.
In a recent interview with Edaily, the 57-year-old actor reflected on the impact of the allegations and explained why he withdrew from public life following the controversy. He said being named during the height of the #MeToo movement left him unsettled and cautious about making public statements.
“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 apologise 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 said.
While reiterating his apology to the women who felt hurt, Oh maintained that he does not consider himself guilty of rape or sexual assault. He stated that he does not believe his past relationships constituted criminal misconduct.
Oh added, “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.”
Following the allegations, Oh stepped away from acting for several years. During that period, he lived on Geoje Island and reportedly took up farming. Authorities later closed the case without a formal investigation, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations, as the alleged incidents dated back to the 1990s.
His return to the screen came with Squid Game Season 2, though reports indicated that his casting initially faced opposition. In the series, Oh portrays Captain Park, a sailor who assists detective Hwang Jun-Ho, played by Wi Ha-Joon, and later aids protagonist Seong Gi-Hun, also known as Player 456, portrayed by Lee Jung-Jae, in efforts to uncover the location of the deadly games and dismantle the organisation behind them.
Oh Dal-Su was cleared of charges in 2019, and he continues to maintain his innocence regarding rape allegations, while acknowledging and apologising for behaviour he has described as immature during his younger years.
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February 24, 2026, 21:45 IST
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