Kim Sae Ron's Suicide: What is the 'Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act'? (Image-Instagram/soohyun)
Controversies around South Korean actress Kim Sae Ron’s suicide and the alleged involvement of the Queen of Tears star Kim Soo-Hyun created a huge impact in the country. As a result of the actress’s suicide, a petition titled the “Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act” was filed in the South Korean National Assembly.
The petition demands major legal changes regarding statutory rape and the punishment for offenders. Here is all you need to know about the law and the reason for calling for an amendment.
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Demands of the ‘Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act’
- Raise the current age in the statutory rape law of minors from 13 to under 16 to 13 to under 19.
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Change the current penalties for statutory rape of minors from “a 2-year minimum sentence for sexual assault and rape” to “a 2-year minimum sentence for sexual assault” and “a 5-year minimum sentence for rape.”
Current Korean law on Statutory Rape and the Need for Change
The petition, Kim Soo Hyn Prevention Act, is calling for a revision to the current law that governs statutory rape protections. The petition, signed by more than 20,000 individuals so far, demands raising the age bar of statutory rape of minors from 16 to 19.
The petition addresses the fact that even though the current Korean law clearly defines minors up to the age of 18 for protection, the age limit of the statutory rape law protects only minors aged 13 to under 16. This means that individuals aged 16 and older are not legally safeguarded by the law, which eventually paves the way for pedophiles to evade the law.
Moreover, the petition also mentioned that in the current Kim Soo-Hyun case, the actor cannot be punished legally with the current existing laws since Kim Sae Ron was 19 when he dated her. Additionally, the petitioner also proposed to increase the punishment for statutory rape of a minor from two or more years to five years.
Petition to the National Assembly
As per reports, the petition will remain open for signature until April 30. If it surpasses 50,000 signatures within 30 days, it will be formally reviewed by the National Assembly subcommittee and will proceed further.
Since the petition was already signed by more than 20,000 individuals within half a day, it is likely to meet the 50,000 threshold before the deadline. Moreover, the Kim Soo Hyn Prevention Act has gained significant traction online, with many demanding a stricter law. However, only South Korean citizens are eligible to sign.
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Actor Kim Soo Hyun’s Statement
The petition demanding the revision of the existing laws comes after the press conference held by Kim Soo-Hyun. Even though the Queen of Tears star admitted that he dated Sae Ron, he denied the claims of dating the actress when she was a minor.
Refuting other allegations, he said, “Except for the fact that both of us were actors, our relationship was just like that of any other ordinary couple. And it is not true that she had made this tragic choice because of me or my agency pressuring her over a debt.”
