Is Police Personal Protection Useless? Only 2.7% of Stalking Re-reports During Protection Lead to Arrest and Investigation

"Active Separation of Victims and Perpetrators Needed"
Despite Many Acquaintance Crimes and High Risk of Serious Offenses, Few Detentions

At the memorial space set up at the entrance of the women's restroom at Sindang Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, where the 'Station Attendant Stalking Murder Case' occurred, messages honoring the deceased were posted on the morning of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] It has been revealed that less than 3% of stalking perpetrators are subjected to detention investigations even after the stalking victims, who are under police safety measures (personal protection), report the incidents again due to repeated stalking.

According to data released on the 18th by Jo Eun-hee, a member of the People Power Party, from last year to the first half of this year, there were 7,772 cases where stalking victims under personal protection re-reported incidents through smartwatches, 112 emergency calls, and complaints. Among these, 1,558 cases were registered, and only 211 cases resulted in detention investigations, accounting for about 2.7% of the total.

Among the re-reported cases, 80% were closed after police officers arriving at the scene confirmed the perpetrator had left or ensured the victim’s safety.

Furthermore, since the Stalking Punishment Act came into effect in October last year, the total number of stalking-related reports received by the police reached 22,721 cases, exceeding the combined total of 18,809 cases reported over the three years before the law’s enforcement.

The average daily number of police reports related to stalking increased fourfold from 15 cases before the law’s enforcement to over 60 cases after the law took effect.

Assembly member Jo pointed out that victims under personal protection who report again to the police are signaling that they feel threatened, and thus a more proactive system to separate victims and perpetrators must be established.

The recent 'Sindang Station Stalking Murder Case' also occurred while the defendant, who was sentenced to nine years in prison, was on trial without detention, prompting widespread calls to overhaul the victim protection system.

Since the Stalking Punishment Act was enacted, up to July this year, the police have forwarded 4,016 cases to the prosecution for violations such as restraining orders. Among these, only 238 cases, less than 6%, were sent with detention, while over 94% were sent without detention.

Given the nature of stalking crimes, where perpetrators often have extensive knowledge of the victim’s information and the high possibility of escalation to violent crimes, the low rate of detention is a clear problem. It is time to comprehensively review the stalking report response system and victim protection measures.

According to the National Police Agency, among 3,039 people booked for violating the stalking law, only 4.3% (129 people) were detained.

Cases such as Kim Byung-chan, who murdered his ex-girlfriend in November last year in retaliation for a stalking crime report, and Kim Tae-hyun, who killed three women in a household after the victim refused contact, are all examples of stalking escalating into violent crimes.

Despite the enforcement of the Stalking Punishment Act on October 21 last year, related crimes continue to increase. Given the nature of stalking crimes and their potential to escalate into violent offenses, strong measures for preventing recidivism and protecting victims are necessary.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, in an emergency video conference attended by 89 stalking-specialized prosecutors from 60 offices nationwide, issued his "first directive upon inauguration," ordering that "stalking crimes must be judged with the victim’s safety as the highest priority."