Last Year, 4,500 Stalking Reports... 9 out of 10 Cases Ended 'On Site'

Enforcement of Stalking Punishment Act in October This Year
Up to 5 Years Imprisonment

Park Wansu, member of the People Power Party. [Photo by Office of the Member]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] It has been revealed that most stalking incidents reported to 112 last year were resolved on the spot.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Park Wan-su, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the People Power Party, the number of stalking crime reports received nationwide last year was 4,515.

By metropolitan police agency, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency had the highest number with 1,444 cases, followed by Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency with 864 cases, Daegu Police Agency with 302 cases, Incheon Police Agency with 298 cases, Gyeonggi Bukbu Police Agency with 244 cases, and Daejeon Police Agency with 217 cases.

Since the police began managing stalking-related 112 reports in June 2018, the number of cases received nationwide until December of the same year was 2,772. In 2019, there were 5,468 cases, 4,515 last year, and 629 cases from January to February this year.

Among the 4,515 cases reported last year, a total of 488 cases were punished under the Minor Offenses Act (338 summary dispositions and 150 summary trials), and 4,027 cases, accounting for 89.2% of the total, were mostly resolved on the spot.

Although it is rare for stalking offenders to be booked on charges such as trespassing, assault, or threats, most cases were resolved by giving warnings to the offenders on the spot or guiding the victims through the stalking complaint procedures.

Meanwhile, the government will enact the "Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, etc." to punish such stalking crimes, which will take effect from October 21. Once this law is enforced, stalking acts, which until now were punishable only by fines of up to 100,000 won, detention, or minor penalties under the Minor Offenses Act, will be defined as formal crimes punishable by imprisonment of up to five years.

Rep. Park said, "The recent murder of three women in Nowon-gu also stemmed from stalking," adding, "Stalking not only causes mental and material harm to victims but also has a high potential to escalate into other violent crimes, so the police must respond more strongly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.