A national petition to the South Korean National Assembly demanding an increase in the statutory rape age to under 19 years old has gained momentum following K-Pop star Kim Soo-hyun’s tearful press conference on Monday.
Kim Soo-hyun, who has a large fanbase in Thailand, firmly denied allegations of dating and grooming the late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor.
“I did not date her when she was a minor,” Kim stated. “Apart from the fact that we were both actors, we were just an ordinary couple like anyone else. We had feelings for each other, and as time passed, we eventually parted ways. After that, we rarely kept in touch.”
His lawyer and agency, Goldmedalist, announced a lawsuit against multiple parties, including a YouTube channel and Kim Sae-ron’s family, accusing them of defamation and violation of information protection laws.
Kim Soo-hyun’s press conference has divided Thai fans, with many believing his emotional display is causing more damage than before.
Kim Sae-ron was found dead at home in February at age 24, nearly two years after retreating from public view following a drunk-driving conviction that prompted heavy public backlash. She was fined approximately $14,000 for the offense.
The intense competition in the Korean entertainment industry creates tremendous pressure on actors and singers, especially when they enter a career downturn with fewer opportunities and financial burdens. Combined with depression, this has led to periodic cases of Korean celebrities taking their own lives.
Following her death, stories about their secret relationship began spreading on social media, with Kim Sae-ron’s mother and family members releasing photos allegedly showing Kim Soo-hyun’s close relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was underage. Kim Soo-hyun has denied these claims and stated that many text messages circulating online, purportedly between him and Kim Sae-ron, are false.
Beyond the entertainment aspect, this case has led to political demands for stronger laws protecting minors. As of Wednesday at 2 p.m., the petition had gathered 33,643 signatures since being filed on March 31.
The petition calls for the amendment to be named the “Kim Soo-hyun Prevention Act,” urging lawmakers to expand statutory rape laws to include ages 13 to 19. Currently, South Korean statutory rape laws only protect those aged 13 to 16.
“Recently, the grooming sexual crime committed by Korean Wave star Kim Soo-hyun against child actress Kim Sae-ron, who was a minor at the time when he was an adult, has been revealed, causing nationwide anger,” the petitioner stated. The petition continues by requesting that the statutory rape age be raised to “between 13 and under 19” with strengthened penalties.
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Source: CNN, The Korean Herald
