Handonghun Orders Review of Punishment Measures for Online Stalking in 'Legal Blind Spots'

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is giving a briefing on the ruling of the Lone Star international investment dispute (ISDS) case at the Ministry of Justice building in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province on the 31st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, has instructed to prepare measures to punish 'online stalking' acts as well.

According to the legal community on the 21st, Minister Han said at the Ministry of Justice's weekly executive meeting the day before, "I agree with the opinion that crimes in the blind spots that are not punishable under the Stalking Punishment Act among non-face-to-face stalking acts through online need to be punished to protect the people," and instructed, "When preparing the bill amendment, thoroughly review the necessity to expand punishment for online stalking."

Under the current Stalking Punishment Act, only the type of online stalking involving "sending writings, words, etc. using information and communication networks" can be punished. Accordingly, there are criticisms that acts such as obtaining and storing personal information, spreading false information including sexual insults along with personal information, and impersonating the victim fall outside the scope of the law.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice is promoting an amendment to the Stalking Punishment Act, focusing on abolishing the 'non-prosecution upon victim's consent' clause for stalking crimes, in relation to the Jeon Ju-hwan case where a woman was killed after persistent stalking. In addition, the Ministry is also reviewing victim protection measures to prevent secondary stalking crimes and retaliatory crimes by newly introducing location tracking of the perpetrator as a provisional measure in the early stages of stalking crimes.