The current law that limits the time for prosecuting murderers could be abolished under a revised bill the Justice Ministry plans to submit for parliamentary approval this year, ministry officials said Thursday.

"We are pushing to lift the statute of limitations for first-degree murders in order to better protect the lives of the citizens and to promote a safer society," ministry officials said.

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, ministry officials added.

The revised bill, which stipulates that the statutory period for homicides is not applicable to cases of capital offense, will be submitted to the National Assembly for parliamentary approval later this year, according to officials.

The latest move came after the National Assembly passed a revision last year to lift the statute of limitations on sexual abuse against disabled people and children under age 13. (Yonhap)