President Lee on 4th Anniversary of Sindang Station Case: "We Must Restrict Perpetrators, Not Victims"

"When warning signs occur, the state must intervene first"
Pushing forward with measures against stalking and dating violence
"No gaps in response as investigative and prosecutorial powers are separated"

On the 4th anniversary of the Sindang Station stalking murder case on September 14, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need for proactive state intervention and control over perpetrators of stalking and dating violence, stating, "It is not the victims who should have to hide; it is the perpetrators who must be stopped."

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Chief Presidential Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House on the 11th. September 11, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On this day, President Lee wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "It has been four years since the Sindang Station stalking murder case occurred. I still remember the words left on the memorial wall at Exit 10 of Sindang Station: 'We are sorry we could not protect you.'” He added, "I deeply mourn the deceased and offer my condolences to the bereaved family, as well as to all victims still living in fear."

The Sindang Station incident refers to the murder that took place on September 14, 2022, at Sindang Station on the Seoul subway, when a Seoul Metro employee who had suffered from stalking was killed by the perpetrator. Since then, related laws and victim protection measures have been strengthened, including the abolition of the non-punishment upon victim's objection clause for stalking crimes.

President Lee pointed out, "Although we have amended the Anti-Stalking Act and improved victim protection systems since the incident, the reality remains that victims still have to hide from their homes and workplaces." He also referenced a recent case in which a woman who had fled domestic violence was murdered by her husband, stressing, "When violence is repeated and warning signs appear, it is the state that must intervene first." He further emphasized, "We must not shift responsibility due to shortcomings in our systems," and stated, "We need to ensure that existing systems function adequately on the ground."

President Lee also made it clear that the response system should shift from existing protection methods that restrict the daily lives of victims, toward actively controlling the behavior of dangerous perpetrators. He stated, "It is not the victims who should have to hide; it is the perpetrators who must be stopped," and added, "Rather than restricting the daily lives of victims, we must restrict the actions of dangerous perpetrators."

He also pledged to ensure that the government's 'Measures to Strengthen Response to Stalking and Dating Violence,' announced in July, would be implemented without delay. President Lee said, "We will expedite the supplementation of necessary systems so that such tragedies are not repeated."

President Lee further stressed that there should be no gaps in responses to crimes against women and youth during the prosecution reform process. He stated, "Even during the separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers, I will make sure that all relevant ministries are meticulous in ensuring responses to crimes against women and youth remain robust." He concluded, "The government will fulfill its responsibility to create a safe society where stalking crimes are not feared—whether in the workplace, on the commute, or anywhere in daily life."

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