Ruling Party and Government Push to Remove Stalking Semi-Private Prosecution Clause... Strengthening Punishment Law (Comprehensive)

Adding Amendment to Stalking Punishment Act to Key Bills in Regular National Assembly for Swift Promotion
Including Online Stalking in Punishment Targets

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (left) and Jeong Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, are attending a high-level party-government consultation meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 25th, engaging in conversation. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Boryeong] On the 25th, the People Power Party and the government decided to push for legal amendments, including the deletion of the provision on the crime of non-prosecution by the victim, as measures related to stalking crimes that became controversial due to the 'Sindang Station Murder Case.'

Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, stated at a briefing following the high-level party-government council held at the National Assembly on the same day, "The party and government have seriously recognized the severity of obsession-type brutal crimes such as stalking, including the recent Sindang Station murder case, and decided to promptly push forward the amendment to the Stalking Punishment Act as a key bill in this year's regular National Assembly session."

The amendment includes the deletion of the provision on non-prosecution by the victim for simple stalking crimes, addition of online stalking to the scope of punishable offenses, introduction of location tracking in provisional measures (such as restraining orders and bans on telecommunication access), and criminal punishment for violations of emergency measures (previously only fines).

Along with this, the amendment to the Electronic Device Attachment Act, which adds stalking crimes to the subjects of electronic device attachment orders, will also be expedited. Furthermore, for stalking cases with repeated risk, active consideration will be given to detention and provisional measures, and strict responses will be taken against personal information leaks that induce stalking crimes. A systematic stalking offender management system will also be established.

Spokesperson Park explained, "Since this is an issue causing great public anxiety, apart from improving laws and systems, the party requested measures to enhance effectiveness through reinforcement of specialized police personnel, cooperation among related agencies such as the police, and a full investigation of past non-prosecution cases."

The party and government also presented measures to address the rise in exchange rates and interest rates. Park said, "The party and government seriously acknowledge the difficulties that vulnerable groups will face due to the rapid rise in exchange rates and steep interest rate hikes, and share the view that more proactive measures are needed to alleviate the burden on financially vulnerable sectors. Even if the maturity extension measures from last March end in September, a soft-landing plan will be implemented from October to provide self-employed individuals and small and medium enterprises with sufficient time to normalize their operations through maturity extensions and repayment deferrals. In addition, a new start fund worth 30 trillion won for debt adjustment of small business owners and self-employed individuals affected by COVID-19 will be implemented smoothly from the 4th of next month."

Regarding the so-called 'Yellow Envelope Act' (amendment to the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) promoted by the Democratic Party, Spokesperson Park said, "The party emphasized that it should be handled cautiously due to legal concerns such as constitutional issues (infringement of property rights), fairness in applying civil law damage compensation principles (exceptions recognized for labor unions), and significant public concerns about the contraction of corporate management activities and the encouragement of illegal strikes and conflicts."

In addition, the party and government plan to add a bill to eradicate voice phishing as a key bill in this year's regular National Assembly session. They discussed strengthening identity verification procedures to fundamentally block the activation of burner phones and preventing the embezzlement of funds through open banking on the same day.