A petition advocating for the Kim Soo-hyun Prevention Act to enforce stricter statutory rape laws is gaining significant support in South Korea. This movement gained momentum following an emergency press conference held by actor Kim Soo-hyun on March 31, 2025. The petition, which was submitted through the National Assembly’s Electronic Petition system, calls for harsher penalties for those convicted of statutory rape.
The main objective of this proposed legislation is to raise the legal age of protection from 16 to 19 years old while increasing the minimum sentence for offenders. The initiator of the petition, Mr. A, highlighted the inadequacies of the current law, which offers protection only to minors aged 13 to 16, thus leaving legal gaps that enable potential offenders to evade justice.
Mr. A expressed concerns over this legislative shortcoming, emphasizing that it allows offenders to escape punishment for their crimes. The recent controversy surrounding Kim Soo-hyun was cited as a significant example to illustrate the urgent need for legal reform. As noted:
“Recently, the grooming sexual crime committed by popular Hallyu star Kim Soo-hyun against former child actress Kim Sae-ron, who was a minor at the time, surfaced, causing outrage among the public.”
Furthermore, Mr. A reiterated the flaws in the existing statutes by stating:
“Unfortunately, the reality is that the statutory rape law only protects minors aged 13 to under 16, so Kim Soo-hyun cannot be legally penalized,”Mr. A noted (via Biz Chosun).
This situation has fueled the argument that current laws are insufficient, allowing offenders to exploit them. The petition thus advocates for a revision in the law to strengthen protections and punitive measures. Key aspects of the Kim Soo-hyun Prevention Act include:
- Raising the age of statutory rape protection from below 16 to below 19.
- Increasing the minimum sentence for statutory rape offenders from 2 to 5 years.
- Addressing and eliminating loopholes in existing laws to ensure that offenders face appropriate consequences.
By 2:00 PM (KST) the same day, the petition had garnered 20,000 signatures. Should it achieve 50,000 signatures within 30 days, it will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the National Assembly.
Disney+ Delays Release of Knock Off Amid Controversy
In related news, Disney+ has announced a delay in the release of the series Knock Off, coinciding with the public’s response to the allegations surrounding Kim Soo-hyun’s relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron. The streaming platform confirmed that the series is “not on the current release schedule.”
This delay was communicated to viewers who voiced their concerns, with the statement issued on the same day as Kim Soo-hyun’s press briefing. A viral post on an online community regarding the situation attracted nearly 90,000 views, fueled by frustration over Disney+’s lack of detailed clarification. The original poster vented:
“No matter how many complaints I sent, they were met with silence, but seeing the replies start coming in, it seems like today’s Kim Soo-hyun press conference didn’t sit well with Disney… Looks like a breach of contract lawsuit will start soon.”
As screenshots of Disney+’s communications circulated widely on social media, speculation arose regarding the timing of their statement in relation to growing public backlash.
During the press conference, Kim Soo-hyun directly addressed the allegations, denying any romantic involvement with Kim Sae-ron while she was a minor. The 37-year-old actor spoke publicly about the scandal for the first time and shed tears while refuting claims propagated by the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute earlier that month.