By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-04-03 10:21:08 | Updated at 2025-04-04 05:54:14
19 hours ago
Calls are growing in South Korea to expand the legal definition of statutory rape to include sex with individuals up to 19 years old after actor Kim Soo-hyun was accused of allegedly dating the late actress Kim Sae-ron from when she was underage.
The renewed scrutiny comes as the family of another deceased actress, known by her stage name Sulli, accused Kim Soo-hyun of forcing her into performing nude scenes.
A petition surfaced on an online platform of the National Assembly on Monday urging lawmakers to raise the age ceiling for the criminal offence of statutory rape to 19 years old from 16 years old currently.
The anonymous petitioner has dubbed the proposal the “Kim Soo-hyun Prevention Act.”
South Koreans legally become adults at 19 years old. Under Korean laws, engaging in sexual intercourse with minors aged between 13 and 16 or committing intimate acts with those under 13 is considered rape, which is punishable with up to life imprisonment.
“The age limit for statutory rape … has allowed a paedophile, who seduced and deceived a promising female actress from childhood until her death, to evade the law,” said the petitioner, who also called for a stiffer penalty for statutory rape.
02:23
Kim Soo-hyun emotionally denies dating Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor
Kim Soo-hyun emotionally denies dating Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor
