Kim Soo Hyun Prevention Act: 50,000 Sign Petition In South Korea Amid Kim Sae-ron Death Controversy; Details Inside

This comes after the petition received over 50,000 signatures in just a week, reflecting a nationwide call for stricter laws around statutory rape and the age of consent. The petition has gained widespread attention, especially in the wake of the ongoing controversy involving popular actor Kim Soo-hyun and the tragic death of actress Kim Sae-ron.

What Is The Kim Soo-hyun Prevention Act?

The petition, which was posted on the National Assembly’s online platform on March 31, 2025, aims to push for legislative reforms around sexual consent and the legal age for adulthood. The anonymous petitioner has named the proposal the “Kim Soo-Hyun Prevention Act”. The petitioner wrote, “The grooming sexual abuse committed by Hallyu star Kim Soo-hyun against then-child actor Kim Sae-ron has outraged the entire country. Unfortunately, the current law only protects children aged between 13 and 16, meaning Kim Soo-hyun cannot be legally prosecuted.”

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Currently, South Korea recognises individuals as legal adults at the age of 19, while the age of sexual consent remains at 16. The Kim Soo-hyun Prevention Act calls for a change, raising the age of consent to match the age of adulthood.

It further proposes that any sexual activity with individuals between the ages of 13 and 16, or any intimate act involving those under 13, should legally be classified as rape. The petition also calls for stricter penalties for sexual offenses. It demands a minimum sentence of two years for molestation and at least five years for rape. At present, the law allows for relatively lighter punishments, with molestation often resulting in fines and rape carrying a minimum two-year jail term.

The petitioner further wrote, “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.

South Korean National Assembly Might Review This Petition

According to the latest media reports, by April 7, 2025, the petition had collected 51,333 signatures, surpassing the entry required for it to be considered by lawmakers. The petition is now officially under review by the National Assembly of South Korea. As per the country's petition process, once a proposal gathers 50,000 signatures within 30 days, it qualifies to be sent to the appropriate committee within the Assembly. From there, the committee has up to 90 days to examine the contents of the petition and decide whether it should move forward for a parliamentary session. If approved, it could then be debated and potentially lead to changes in legislation.

The issue has sparked national debate, with many netizens demanding a legal framework that better protects minors. Activists argue that the current laws leave too much room for exploitation, especially in high-profile or powerful circles, such as the entertainment industry.

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Kim Sae-ron Death Controversy

Actor Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her apartment in Seoul, South Korea, on February 16, 2025. She was 24 years old.Korean media reports emerged linking Kim Soo-hyun to the controversy. Dispatch Korea reported that Gold Medalist, the agency co-owned by Kim Soo-hyun, had been involved in a lawsuit against Kim Sae-ron, allegedly demanding a large sum of money from her. This came after allegations surfaced that Kim Soo-hyun had been romantically involved with the actress when she was still underage.

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The controversy arose from claims made by the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (HoverLab) that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron had been in a relationship since 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was 15 and Kim Soo-hyun was 27. Kim Sae-ron’s family has also accused Kim Soo-hyun of dating the late actress while she was still a minor. They claimed he manipulated her and pressured her to repay a debt related to her DUI case from May 2022.

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Kim Soo-hyun's Statement At The Press Conference

Actor Kim Soo-hyun held an emergency press conference to address the controversy involving the late actor Kim Sae-ron. At a recent press conference, Kim Soo-hyun denied all such claims, stating that their relationship began in 2019 when Kim Sae-ron was 19 and he was 31.

At the press conference, actor Kim Soo-hyun said, “It feels like too many people are suffering because of me. I am sorry. It pains me to think that even the deceased may not be able to rest in peace.”

He further said, “I’ll address the biggest concern - I did not date the deceased when she was a minor. We dated five years ago for about a year, long before Queen of Tears aired.”

The actor also shared his reasons for previously denying any relationship with Kim Sae-ron, saying, “As the lead actor of ‘Queen of Tears’, I couldn’t confirm the relationship publicly because of its potential impact on the cast and crew. Aside from the fact that we were both actors, we were simply an ordinary couple who broke up over time.”

According to a report by the Korean Herald, “Following the press conference, Kim Soo-hyun and his agency filed a lawsuit seeking 12 billion won ($8.18 million) in damages against a woman calling herself Kim Sae-ron’s aunt as well as against HoverLab, a far-right YouTube channel that has been publishing videos regarding the controversy.”

The controversy has stirred deep public emotion and led many to question the accountability of celebrities and entertainment agencies.

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