5434 Cases Punished Under Stalking Punishment Act in 9 Months... 20 Cases per Day

Average of 678 Punishments per Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Since the Stalking Punishment Act was enforced in October last year, it has been confirmed that more than 5,000 cases have been punished for stalking over the past nine months.

According to stalking crime data submitted by Lee Dongju, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, from the Police Agency's Women and Youth Crime Investigation Division on the 24th, the number of cases punished for stalking crimes from the enforcement of the law on October 21 last year until June of this year reached 5,434.

Excluding October, the first month of enforcement, an average of 678 stalking crime cases were punished per month over the eight months from November last year to June this year. More than 20 cases occur daily on average.

Following the Shindang Station murder case, awareness of stalking crimes has increased, and there are opinions that investigative agencies and courts should conduct thorough investigations and establish a strict punishment policy.

Rep. Lee said, "Since there are more than 5,400 punished cases, there are likely even more stalking crimes that have not been punished," adding, "As the Shindang Station case revealed the dangers of stalking crimes, society must repeatedly raise awareness."

Meanwhile, on the 14th, a female subway staff member patrolling Seoul Subway Shindang Station was killed by a coworker who had been stalking her. The suspect had previously been indicted on stalking charges against the victim but committed the crime a day before the court's sentencing, leading to criticism that proper separation measures for the perpetrator were not implemented.