Rep. Lee Hyung-seok Introduces Amendment Bill for the 'Constitutional Crime Statute of Limitations Act'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Representative Lee Hyung-seok (Gwangju Buk-gu Eul, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party) announced on the 30th that he has taken the lead in proposing a revision to the "Special Act on the Statute of Limitations for Crimes Destroying the Constitutional Order (hereinafter referred to as the Constitutional Crime Statute of Limitations Act)" which excludes the statute of limitations for crimes against humanity.

Rep. Lee stated, "The revision of the 'Special Act on Punishment for Distortion of the May 18 Democratic Movement, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the May 18 Historical Distortion Punishment Act),' which is being promoted as a party policy, has been submitted to the Democratic Party Policy Committee and is undergoing the party adoption process," adding, "Through the public hearing on the 'May 18 Historical Distortion Punishment Act,' opinions emerged that the 'Constitutional Crime Statute of Limitations Act' also needs provisions to exclude the statute of limitations for crimes against humanity, leading to the preparation of this revision."

In fact, since the adoption of the "Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court" in 1998, countries around the world have been revising their laws to exclude the statute of limitations for crimes against humanity and crimes against humanity. South Korea also enacted the "Act on the Punishment of Crimes under the Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court" in 2007 in accordance with the "Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court."

Rep. Lee emphasized, "By adding 'crimes against humanity' to the title and provisions of the law, the statute of limitations should be excluded for widespread acts such as killing, injury, detention, torture, and rape committed by the state or organizations/institutions against civilians," and added, "This will ensure human dignity and fundamental human rights, and furthermore, establish a foundation to protect the constitutional free democratic order."

He also stated, "As long as efforts continue to preserve the historical site and remember the May 18 Democratic Movement, the day will surely come when the atrocities of crimes against humanity will be legally punished," and reiterated, "Just as the German government relentlessly pursued and punished Nazi collaborators, there can be no statute of limitations for the massacre perpetrators who pointed guns at citizens."

Meanwhile, the revision to the "Constitutional Crime Statute of Limitations Act" led by Rep. Lee Hyung-seok was co-sponsored by a total of 30 members of the National Assembly, including Choi Ki-sang, Heo Young, Ahn Kyu-baek, Lim Ho-seon, Yang Ki-dae, Park Jung, Kim Jong-min, Kim Young-joo, Jin Sung-jun, Shin Hyun-young, Song Gap-seok, Yoon Jae-gap, Shin Jeong-hoon, Jo Oh-seop, Seo Sam-seok, Lee Byung-hoon, Yang Hyang-ja, Ko Young-in, Yoon Kwan-seok, Lee Sung-man, Noh Woong-rae, Jung Pil-mo, Yoon Ho-jung, Yoon Hu-duk, Kim Hoe-jae, Park Joo-min, Hong Ik-pyo, Hong Sung-guk, and Lee Soo-jin.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.