Blue House Approves Stalking Crime Punishment Act, Defines as "Stalking Crime"

Stalking / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 13th, President Moon Jae-in presided over the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House and via video conference with the Government Seoul and Sejong Office of the Prime Minister. The meeting deliberated and approved the promulgation of laws including the "Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes," legislative bills such as the "Partial Amendment to the Credit Guarantee Act for Farmers, Foresters, and Fishers," and presidential decrees including the "Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the School Sports Promotion Act."

The "Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes" defines stalking?approaching or following someone against their will?as a crime and establishes various procedures to protect victims and punish offenders. The Blue House stated, "We hope that stalking crimes will be thoroughly prevented and that comprehensive protection for victims will be ensured."

Additionally, as a follow-up measure to the "Plan to Strengthen the Protection of Student Athletes' Human Rights" announced last December, the "Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the School Sports Promotion Act" was deliberated and approved. Starting from the 21st, human rights education in the sports field for student athletes and school sports team coaches will be mandatory, and this enforcement decree includes specific methods for conducting sports human rights education.

The "Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Status and Service of Military Personnel" increased the annual usage days of childcare leave for military personnel from a maximum of 3 days to 10 days and expanded the applicable subjects from children to grandchildren.

The "Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Medical Care Assistance Act" lowered the out-of-pocket medical expenses borne by patients prescribed long-acting antipsychotic injections for mental illness from 10% to 5%.

The "Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Land Development Promotion Act," a follow-up to the public land supply system improvement plan announced in November last year, focuses on activating a competitive method instead of a lottery method by supplying apartment sites within land development districts. The "Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion of Mutual Growth between Large and Small Enterprises" stipulates detailed procedures such as the list of documents required for the Korea Federation of SMEs to apply for delivery price adjustments on behalf of companies when adjustments are needed due to changes in supply costs, effective from the 21st.

Meanwhile, after the Cabinet meeting agenda deliberation, a report on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's operation of the "2021 Spring Hanbok Culture Week" was presented.