Kim Namhee Seeks to Include Forced Dating and Location Tracking as Stalking... Adds Nine Types

Bill Sponsored to Amend the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes and Others
105,327 Dating Violence Reports Last Year... Detention Rate Among Those Apprehended at 2.5%
Expanded Grounds for Protective Measures, Including Restraining Orders... Per

A bill has been introduced to classify controlling and coercive conduct in dating relationships, such as forcing someone to remain in a relationship, tracking their location, and accessing their phone information without permission, as stalking. It would allow such conduct to be punished as a stalking crime if it is persistent or repeated.

On Oct. 26, Kim Namhee of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said she had sponsored an amendment to the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, Etc. The amendment would add nine types of controlling and coercive conduct associated with dating violence to the definition of stalking.

Rep. Kim Namhee of the Democratic Party asks questions during a plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Yonhap News

The amendment includes forcing someone to form, maintain or resume a dating relationship; tracking their location without consent; informing them that they are being monitored; accessing their information without authorization through telecommunications networks; and threatening to disclose private information. It also adds threatening to harm a companion animal and preventing someone from associating with family members or acquaintances.

Such conduct constitutes stalking if it is carried out against the other person’s will, without a legitimate reason, and causes anxiety or fear. Interim measures, including restraining orders, may be imposed in accordance with the requirements and procedures set out in law. If the conduct is persistent or repeated and therefore constitutes a stalking crime, the perpetrator may face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

According to Kim’s analysis of National Police Agency data, there were 105,327 police reports of dating violence and 44,687 reports of stalking last year. The number of people arrested was 14,526 and 16,400, respectively, with detention rates of 2.5% for dating violence and 3.1% for stalking.

Among the 2,760 murders committed from 2023 through September 2026, prior victimization involving domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual violence by the same perpetrator was confirmed in 543 cases (19.7%).

“Dating violence does not begin suddenly one day. It can start with controlling behavior, such as checking someone’s location, looking through their phone and preventing them from seeing family and friends,” Kim said. “I hope this will serve as a practical safety system that prevents repeated tragedies and protects victims before they are exposed to violence.”

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