Increase in reports of stalking observed in South Korea following the implementation of stricter anti-stalking laws due to a high-profile murder case
South Korea has witnessed a significant increase in stalking cases since the enactment of the Act on Punishment of Crime of Stalking in October 2021. The number of reported stalking cases has more than doubled from 2022 to 2024, and the rate of filings in the first seven months of 2025 is higher than the total number of cases reported in 2022.
Prior to the new law, stalking was classified as a misdemeanour. However, the Act on Punishment of Crime of Stalking replaced these laws, making stalking a punishable offence with penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$21,600).
In 2021, only 406 stalking cases were reported in South Korea. By the end of 2023, this number had grown to more than 10,400 cases. The figures submitted to lawmakers suggest that the total number of stalking cases in 2025 could surpass that of 2024.
The South Korean National Assembly removed a controversial clause in July 2023 that allowed offenders to avoid prosecution under certain conditions. In July 2023, the National Assembly also tightened the law on stalking again.
Emergency protective measures in South Korea include ordering a suspect not to come within 100 metres of a victim's home, workplace, or school. These measures can also include relocating a victim to a secure facility and banning a suspect from making electronic contact targeting a victim.
Despite these measures, the courts in South Korea have been less willing to grant emergency protective measures to prevent stalkers from approaching victims. This has raised concerns among initiative groups such as the Korean Women's Association United, who have been actively engaged since the strengthening of anti-stalking laws in South Korea in October 2021.
It is crucial for authorities to address this issue effectively to ensure the safety and well-being of victims of stalking in South Korea.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Japanese leader stepping down from office
- Leaders Pashinyan and Aliyev convene at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's annual gathering
- Policies proposed by Prabowo are causing a mix of optimism and unease among Indonesians
