Seoul City to Launch First 'Stalking Victim Protection Facility' in October... 'One-Stop Support Service' from Next Year

Seoul City Establishes 'Comprehensive Measures for Stalking Victim Protection and Support'... Proactive Support for Victims
Seoul City Builds Network of Counseling Centers and Shelters... Strengthening Joint Response through Police Cooperation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City will operate the first protection facility for stalking victims starting in October and will launch one-stop support services for victims from next year. The city will strengthen its joint response capabilities by building a network with Seoul City counseling centers, protection facilities, and enhancing cooperation with the police.

On the 17th, Seoul City announced a comprehensive plan for the protection and support of stalking victims, pledging to do its utmost to help victims safely return to their daily lives. The number of stalking victim reports was only 83 cases per month in last year’s survey but increased to 652 cases per month this year. Counseling cases also rose from 267 in 2020 to 415 last year.

This comprehensive plan aims for the “safe and healthy return of stalking victims to everyday life as citizens” and will be promoted through 13 tasks across three major areas: ?one-stop support for victims ?public awareness improvement and prevention ?establishment of victim support systems.

First, Seoul City will implement the “One-Stop Support Service Project for Stalking Victims,” integrating and linking previously scattered services so that stalking victims can receive customized psychological, legal, medical, and accompaniment support services with a single application. Previously, victim support systems were scattered across multiple institutions, requiring victims to apply individually, causing inconvenience. This will be improved so that when victims apply through the Women’s Emergency Hotline 1366, the “One-Stop Support Agency for Stalking Victims” will provide all necessary support systems at once, ensuring seamless assistance for victims.

Considering the urgency of supporting stalking victims, starting with the “One-Stop Support Project” next year, Seoul plans to establish a “One-Stop Support Center for Stalking Victims” in 2024 to build an integrated response system from prevention to support, continuing comprehensive victim assistance.

Beginning this October, Seoul will operate the nation’s first “Protection Facility for Stalking Victims” to ensure safety from threats such as residential intrusion and provide psychological treatment programs for trauma to support victims’ recovery. Utilizing existing domestic violence protection facilities, three protection facilities for stalking victims (two for women, one for men) will be operated from October this year. Notably, since there are no protection facilities for male victims other than temporary shelters, Seoul will establish the nation’s first protection facility for male victims of sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, providing warm and comfortable facilities for both men and women.

To protect stalking victims who feel unsafe even during their commute, a “Companion Service” will be launched next year. Starting with accompaniment during commuting, the scope of protection and number of companions will be gradually expanded. Support will be provided through a public bidding process for security companies next year, and when the One-Stop Support Center for Stalking Victims is established in 2024, “Safe Companion Supporters” will be organized to assist victims.

Using IT, Seoul will build a comprehensive safety system for stalking victims by providing safety equipment and services such as the Ansim-i app and Ansim-i emergency bell to prevent indoor and outdoor residential intrusion and ensure personal safety. The Ansim-i app supports emergency reporting and monitoring of return home, while safety equipment includes smart doorbells and home CCTV. Additionally, Ansim delivery boxes will be provided to prevent exposure of victims’ residences, offering various services and equipment to stalking victims and those at risk of crime victimization.

Seoul City will also develop and distribute a “Behavioral Guideline Manual” for stalking victims to help them establish their own action plans, enhancing their ability to protect and prepare themselves against threats. In advanced countries, safety plans that provide victims with specific behavioral guidelines according to stalking types are recommended. Seoul plans to support victims in creating personalized action plans by developing and distributing a standardized manual.

Furthermore, education and publicity to prevent stalking crimes will be strengthened to raise awareness of the seriousness of stalking and prevention methods, improving public perception and social consensus. Prevention education will be systematically conducted by target groups, dividing students and adults. For students, educational materials will be distributed through cooperation with education offices and universities via home communications and freshman orientation. For adults, prevention education will be enhanced by dividing into public and private sectors, utilizing mandatory violence education and “visiting violence prevention education.”

An online counseling window and information provision platform for victims will also be established to create a communication space and a comprehensive information website. Considering that the main age group of victims is young people in their 20s and 30s, accessibility will be improved by opening counseling channels via online chat and KakaoTalk, and a website will be developed to provide various information at a glance from stalking prevention to support.

Seoul City will strengthen joint response capabilities by building networks among counseling centers, protection facilities, and cooperating with the police. Regular meetings will monitor victim cases, establish post-management systems, and develop measures to prevent recurrence, solidifying the victim support system by identifying policy security issues. Starting in the first half of next year, a stalking violence survey will be conducted every three years to prepare support measures based on more accurate data.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul City Women and Family Policy Office, said, “Serious crimes caused by stalking have been continuously occurring recently, increasing public anxiety. We will do our best to establish an integrated and systematic support system from prevention to support of stalking victims to realize a safe Seoul and help victims recover their daily lives.”