After the Kim Soo Hyun controversy erupted, a petition in South Korea wants to change the law to better protect minors from sexual abuse.
A petition called the “Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act” has gained over 51,083 signatures in South Korea. It intends to strengthen laws against sexual abuse of minors. Since it reached 50,000 signatures within 30 days, it will be reviewed by a National Assembly committee. The committee will then decide whether to discuss it further in a plenary session within 90 days.
If the petition meets the required number of signatures, it will be sent to a National Assembly committee for review. This committee will then decide whether to forward it to a plenary session for further discussion. Here’s how the process typically unfolds:
- Committee Review: The committee assesses the petition to ensure it meets the necessary requirements.
- Decision to Forward: If the committee finds the petition meritorious, they may recommend further action, such as introducing a bill.
- Plenary Session: If forwarded, the petition is discussed by lawmakers in a plenary session.
The petitioner is calling for the revision of South Korea’s statutory rape laws, citing the alleged relationship between actor Kim Soo Hyun and former child actress Kim Sae Ron, who was a minor at the time. The petitioner argues that the current law only protects minors between 13 and 16 years old. As a result, it leaves a loophole for pedophiles and offenders, who cannot be legally punished due to the age restriction.
Currently, the law only protects minors between 13 and 16 years old, while South Korean law defines minors as those under 18.
The petitioner proposed to increase the age of consent from 16 to 19 to align with the definition of minors under South Korean law. They also propose to replace the current fine for molestation with imprisonment for 2 years or more, and increasing the sentence for rape from 2 years or more to 5 years or more.
Kim Soo Hyun has been embroiled in controversy over allegations of dating Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor. The “Queen of Tears” actor held a press conference, denying the claims that he did not date the deceased when she was a minor.” His agency, Gold Medalist asserted that any photos or evidence suggesting an underage relationship were taken after Kim Sae Ron turned 18.
He is also accused of pressuring her to pay 700 million won debt despite her acting career being on halt. Netizens are holding him responsible for her untimely death as she committed suicide on his birthday, February 16.
