National Assembly passes bill removing statute of limitations for murders

The National Assembly on Friday passed a revised bill abolishing the law that limits the time for prosecuting murderers. 

The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy gave the nod to lifting the 25-year statute of limitations on first-degree murders in a 199-0 vote, with 4 blank ballots. 

The revision does not apply to lifting the statute of limitations on cases of second-degree murders, manslaughter and other kinds or murders resulting from accidents. 

The current statutory period for murders is 25 years, but there has been an ongoing demand by the public to remove the law as such serious crimes should not go unpunished.

The revised bill was tabled in 1999 following the murder of a six-year-old boy. Kim Tae-wan died 49 days after being sprayed with sulfuric acid in front of his home in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap)