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5 clusters · 14 sources · 15 days · First seen · Last updated

South Korea relationship-based violence trends

Overview

South Korea has experienced a significant increase in reports of stalking and dating violence over the last five years. National Police Agency data indicates that stalking reports rose from 14,509 in 2021 to 44,687 recently, while dating violence reports grew by approximately 84% to reach 105,327. A notable trend is the repetitive nature of these crimes, with approximately 78% of re-reported cases involving three or more separate reports.

Efforts to protect victims, such as the distribution of smartwatches, have faced scrutiny regarding their effectiveness. Between 2022 and mid-2025, 27 cases of murder and attempted murder occurred involving victims who had been issued protective smartwatches. Despite the number of units distributed increasing from 14,208 in 2022 to 21,974 in 2025, many victims were killed despite being under multiple protection protocols. Critics have identified structural flaws in the smartwatches, noting that victims must manually trigger alerts and manage a battery life of only three days. Furthermore, legal hurdles such as prosecutors declining to request arrest warrants or courts rejecting them have hindered protection.

Recent incidents highlight ongoing failures in police intervention. In Asan, a woman in her 50s was found dead in a vehicle following a suspected stalking attack. The victim had reportedly been carrying a self-defense gas gun since April due to safety fears. Records show she had reported stalking to the police twice this year; however, authorities dismissed the January report as “low risk” after issuing a warning, and a second report in June was not pursued further. In response to these systemic failures, the National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee is hosting a forum titled ‘Relationship Crimes, Repeated Female Victimization, and State Responsibility’ to evaluate victim protection systems and the management of high-risk offenders.

Entities

South Korea · Korean National Police Agency · Gongju · Democratic Party of Korea · Jeju

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 6 sources
    South Korean lawmaker proposes law to curb stalking and relationship crimes

    South Korean Representative Kim Nam-hee is proposing an amendment to the Stalking Punishment Act after data showed nearly 20% of murders are preceded by stalking or domestic violence.

  2. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    South Korean lawmakers hold forum on relationship crime prevention

    South Korean lawmakers are holding a forum to discuss improving state responses to relationship crimes, such as stalking and domestic violence, following repeated failures in victim protection.

  3. [CRIME] 6 sources
    South Korean woman killed in suspected stalking attack

    A South Korean woman was killed in a suspected stalking attack despite having reported the suspect to police twice this year. The victim had been carrying a self-defense gas gun due to safety concerns.

  4. [CRIME] 3 sources
    South Korea smartwatches fail to prevent 27 relationship-based murders

    Despite increased distribution of protective smartwatches, 27 murders and attempted murders occurred in South Korea between 2022 and 2025 involving stalking and domestic violence victims.

  5. [CRIME] 4 sources
    South Korea sees surge in stalking and dating violence reports

    Stalking reports in South Korea tripled over five years, with 78% of re-reported dating violence and stalking cases involving three or more incidents, highlighting a need for better police protection.

Sources

bbcrussian.com · biz.heraldcorp.com · dailymail.co.uk · hidomin.com · jnilbo.com · joseilbo.com · kyeonggi.com · m.imaeil.com · m.sportalkorea.com · mbn.mk.co.kr · mustsharenews.com · newstomato.com · wicnews.com · womennews.co.kr

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history