South Korea sees surge in stalking and dating violence reports

Stalking and dating violence reports in South Korea have seen a significant surge over the past five years. According to data from the National Police Agency, stalking reports rose from 14,509 in 2021 to 44,687 last year, while dating violence reports increased by approximately 84%, rising from 57,305 to 105,327 during the same period.

A critical trend identified in the data is the repetitive nature of these crimes. Approximately 78% of re-reported stalking and dating violence cases involved three or more separate reports, highlighting the recurring danger faced by victims.

Despite the increase in reports and the expansion of safety measures—such as the distribution of smartwatches to victims—there are concerns regarding police capacity. Currently, there are only 259 dedicated victim protection officers for 262 police stations nationwide, and no dedicated officers are stationed at level-3 police stations, leaving general staff to manage both crime investigation and victim support.