A proposed bill to revise South Korea’s statutory rape law, sparked by the Kim Soo Hyun case, has crossed the signature threshold for National Assembly review

In a major development reflecting widespread public outcry, the so-called “Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Law” — a petition calling for stricter statutory rape laws involving minors — has officially crossed 50,000 signatures on South Korea’s National Assembly electronic petition platform. This milestone ensures that the proposed bill will now be reviewed by a legislative committee, moving one step closer to potential implementation.

The petition, posted on March 31, gained rapid traction and had amassed 51,083 signatures by 5 p.m. on April 7. According to National Assembly procedures, any petition that reaches 50,000 signatures within 30 days is referred to a relevant committee. This committee must, within 90 days, determine whether the proposal should be presented for a full vote in the National Assembly — a process that now lies ahead for this controversial and widely discussed petition.

The originator of the petition cited public anger over the alleged grooming and inappropriate relationship between Hallyu actor Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress Kim Sae Ron, who was a minor at the time. The petitioner claimed that despite public outrage, current South Korean laws inadequately address such cases. Under the law, statutory rape protections are limited to minors aged 13 to 16, leaving individuals aged 17 to 18 vulnerable under existing legal frameworks.

In the petition, the author emphasized, “Though Korean law legally recognizes anyone under 18 as a minor, the statutory rape clause allows predators to evade justice simply because the victim is older than 16. This creates a dangerous loophole that must be closed immediately.”

The petition advocates two major changes:

• Raise the protected age range under the statutory rape law from 13–16 years to 13–19 years, ensuring broader coverage for all legal minors.

• Increase sentencing guidelines — elevating molestation punishments from fines to a minimum of two years’ imprisonment, and rape charges from a minimum of two years to a minimum of five years.

The legislative proposal gained its unofficial title — the Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Law — due to the high-profile nature of the allegations surrounding the actor. Though Kim Soo Hyun has denied the claims, stating at a press conference on March 31, “I did not have a relationship with her while she was a minor,” public debate and online discourse have been unrelenting.

Both families — Kim Soo Hyun’s and Kim Sae Ron’s — have exchanged rebuttals, turning this tragic incident into a media firestorm. Yet, amid the controversy, one central issue has emerged: the need for more stringent child protection laws in South Korea.

The groundswell of support for the petition underscores a growing societal demand for legal reform that aligns with modern understandings of consent, grooming, and the psychological vulnerability of minors. As South Korea’s National Assembly prepares to review the proposal, the nation watches closely, awaiting a verdict that could reshape how crimes against minors are prosecuted.

What’s Next?

Now that the petition has met its 50,000-signature threshold, the designated committee will have up to 90 days to decide whether it will present the bill for a plenary session vote. With growing momentum and continued media attention, the outcome of this legislative review could mark a turning point in Korea’s fight to protect minors from sexual exploitation and grooming.

Public Sentiment:

Whether the Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Law moves forward or not, its emergence reflects a collective urgency to address glaring legal gaps. In an era increasingly aware of power dynamics, grooming, and predatory behavior, this proposal — and the debate surrounding it — could serve as a catalyst for long-overdue reform.