Not Just a 'Love Quarrel' but a Serious Crime... Dating Violence That Threatens Lives

Over the Past 3 Years, Over 30,000 People Charged with Dating Violence
45% of Women Marry the Partner Who Committed Violence
Experts: "In the UK, US, and Germany, Dating Violence Is Also Recognized as Domestic Violence"
"Labeling It as 'Lovers' Love Fight' Makes Third-Party Intervention Difficult"

A man in his 30s who assaulted his girlfriend, with whom he was arguing, causing her death at an officetel in Mapo-gu, Seoul, is seen leaving the Seoul Western District Court after completing a pre-arrest detention hearing on the 15th of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The perpetrator of the so-called 'Seoul Mapo-gu dating violence' case, who brutally assaulted his girlfriend leading to her death, will face his first trial next month. As a Blue House national petition demanding severe punishment for the perpetrator has garnered over 500,000 signatures due to the brutality of the incident, public outrage continues to grow.

Due to the nature of dating violence as a crime, many victims hesitate to report it, considering it a private matter. In the process, the severity of the assault can escalate, potentially leading to serious crimes such as sexual assault or murder. Experts emphasize the urgent need for appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of this horrific crime, which might otherwise be dismissed as a private issue.

◆ Man who caused girlfriend's death through ruthless assault... Growing social outrage

The perpetrator, Mr. A, in the Mapo-gu dating violence case, is accused of repeatedly assaulting the victim during an argument at an officetel in Mapo-gu on July 25, resulting in her death. The victim suffered severe injuries, including a brain hemorrhage (traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage), and was transported to the hospital. She remained unconscious for three weeks before ultimately passing away.

The police applied for an arrest warrant on July 27, two days after the incident, on charges of injury, but the court dismissed it, citing a low risk of evidence tampering or flight.

After receiving the autopsy results from the National Forensic Service and medical opinions, the police reapplied for an arrest warrant on charges of injury resulting in death, which was granted, leading to Mr. A's detention. According to multiple media reports, Mr. A's trial is scheduled for August 4.

The bereaved family of the victim in the 'Mapo-gu dating violence' case posted a petition urging severe punishment for the perpetrator, receiving over 530,000 endorsements. / Photo by Cheong Wa Dae National Petition Board capture

This case sparked national anger as the perpetrator's brutal level of violence became known. The victim's mother released CCTV footage showing the assault to 'SBS.' In the video, Mr. A is seen knocking the victim down, climbing on top of her, and repeatedly punching her head in a merciless attack.

The victim's mother posted a petition on the national petition board in August, demanding strict punishment for Mr. A, which received over 530,000 signatures. On July 16, one of the bereaved family members, who works as a train conductor on Subway Line 4, made an announcement on the train asking for public attention to the petition, helping to raise awareness of the case.

◆ Over 30,000 people charged with dating violence in the past three years

Dating violence, which refers to various types of violence occurring between romantic partners, is not a new issue. According to data received by Justice Party lawmaker Lee Eunju from the National Police Agency on 'dating violence reports, cases, and charges over the past five years,' there were a total of 47,755 reports of dating violence from 2016 to 2020. This averages over 9,500 cases annually.

Most dating violence cases involve assault. According to National Police Agency data, among those charged with dating violence in the past three years, 7,003 were arrested on charges such as assault and injury.

There have also been cases where dating violence escalated to serious crimes. During the same period, 84 people were charged with sexual assault, 25 with attempted murder, and 10 with murder.

According to data compiled by the National Police Agency, an average of 9,500 dating violence cases occurred annually over the five years from 2016 to 2020. / Photo by Yonhap News

Due to the close relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, victims may hesitate to report dating violence, and it can be difficult to escape even as the violence intensifies. Sometimes victims do not recognize the severe assault as a crime.

A survey conducted in August 2018 by the Gyeonggi Family and Women Research Institute involving 1,500 adults found that 45% of women who experienced dating violence ended up marrying the perpetrator. The reasons for maintaining the relationship despite the assault were 'judging that it was not severe enough to prevent marriage (41.6%)' and 'continuing to love the partner (28.2%).'

◆"In the UK and US, dating violence is recognized as domestic violence" - Calls for preventive policies

Citizens also expressed anxiety about the issue of dating violence. Ms. B, a woman in her 20s working in an office, said, "It's scary to think that the person I'm dating could threaten me at any time. They probably know all my personal information like phone number and home address, so there's no way to stop it."

Another office worker, Mr. C (31), said, "No matter how close you are as a couple, violence can never be justified. Especially since lovers are close, they can commit crimes at any time, so I think it's a much more serious crime. To instill awareness that dating violence is absolutely unforgivable, the punishment for perpetrators should be strengthened."

Experts suggested that various systems to prevent dating violence could be introduced by referring to advanced policy cases in developed countries.

Hong Young-oh, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice, said, "Countries like the UK, US, and Germany include dating violence within the concept of domestic violence. If dating violence is dismissed as lovers' quarrels, third parties think there is no need to intervene." He pointed out, "As a result, even if dating violence is reported to the police, investigations or punishments of perpetrators are not easily carried out."

He added, "Some countries have passed laws allowing background checks on dating partners to prevent dating violence. Although these laws raise concerns about privacy invasion, it is possible to find a balance between public interest and privacy protection to establish appropriate prevention and response policies."