"Raise the Age for Statutory Rape of Minors
From Under 16 to Under 19"
Petition Gains 18,000 Signatures in Just One Day
Recently, amid controversies in the entertainment industry regarding 'adult relationships with minors,' a petition has emerged calling for raising the age of statutory rape and strengthening punishments.
On the 31st of last month, a petitioner posted a petition titled "Petition on Raising the Age of Statutory Rape and Strengthening Punishments, the so-called 'XXX (Person's Name) Prevention Act,'" stating, "I hope the current age range for statutory rape, which protects only children aged 13 to under 16, will be raised to cover those aged 13 to under 19, and that the penalties will be strengthened."
The petitioner said, "Although South Korean law clearly defines minors as those under the age of 18 and protects them, the age limit for statutory rape, which protects only minors aged 13 to under 16, allows pedophiles to evade the law," adding, "please raise the age range for statutory rape to those aged 13 to under 19, and increase the penalties to at least 2 years imprisonment for molestation and at least 5 years imprisonment for sexual assault." As of 12:30 PM on the 1st, just one day after the petition was posted, it has surpassed 18,143 signatures.
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