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South Korea relationship-based violence trends

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2026-10-20 06:51 UTC → 2026-10-26 02:40 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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