Petition for Kim Soo-hyun Prevention Law Gains Traction

A petition has surfaced calling for an increase in the age limit and penalties for statutory rape of minors, referred to as the 'Kim Soo-hyun Prevention Law.' According to the National Assembly's electronic petition website, the petition was posted on March 31, 2025, seeking to amend the current law that protects only children aged 13 to under 16. The petitioner, identified as A, argues that the age limit should be raised to protect those aged 13 to under 19 and that penalties should be strengthened.

A stated, 'The recent revelation of grooming sexual crimes committed by Hallyu star Kim Soo-hyun against the underage actress Kim Sae-ron has outraged the public. Unfortunately, the current law only protects minors aged 13 to under 16, leaving Kim Soo-hyun unpunished under the law.'

The petitioner emphasized that while South Korean law defines minors as individuals under 18, the existing statutory rape law's age restriction allows predators to evade justice, leading to tragic outcomes for promising young actresses. A proposed two key changes: 1) raise the age limit for statutory rape from 13-16 to 13-19, and 2) increase the penalties from a minimum of two years for sexual assault to five years for rape.

The petition will remain open until the end of this month, and if it garners over 50,000 signatures, it will be formally submitted to the relevant committees in the National Assembly.

Previously, Kim Soo-hyun faced allegations of having a relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron during her minor years, which has sparked a grooming crime controversy. The family of the late actress claimed through the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Research Institute' that Kim Sae-ron was in a relationship with Kim Soo-hyun from November 2015 until July 2021, and that they pressured her regarding a compensation payment related to a drunk driving incident.

In response to the ongoing allegations, Kim Soo-hyun held a press conference in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, addressing the rumors surrounding his relationship with Kim Sae-ron. He asserted that while he dated her for a year before the airing of 'The Tears of Queen,' they were not in a relationship when she was a minor. He also denied claims that his actions or his agency's financial pressures contributed to her tragic death.

Furthermore, Kim Soo-hyun's legal representatives have filed defamation lawsuits against the family and unnamed individuals claiming to be relatives, as well as the operators of the 'Garo Sero Research Institute,' and have initiated a lawsuit for damages amounting to 12 billion KRW. Kim Soo-hyun stated, 'I will accept any criticism for what I have done, but I will not accept accusations for things I have not done. I want to clarify this for those who still believe in me. I will prove my innocence.'