27,10 Cases → 6,766 Cases → 9,017 Cases
Domestic Violence Counseling Approaches 160,000 Cases
Total Counseling Cases Increase by 4,480
94% of Victims Are Women
The number of violence counseling cases reported to the Women's Emergency Hotline 1366 increased by about 4,000 last year. In particular, stalking victim counseling cases have sharply increased over the past three years, reaching approximately 9,000 last year.
The Women's Emergency Hotline 1366, a counseling agency under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, announced on the 23rd that the total number of counseling cases last year was 294,328, an increase of 4,480 cases compared to the previous year. Among these, cases related to domestic violence, stalking, and prostitution increased by 3,212, 2,251, and 831 respectively. The scale of domestic violence victim counseling nearly reached 161,041 cases last year.
Among all victims who received counseling, women accounted for nearly 94.08%. Men accounted for 5.9%, and gender unknown was 0.02%. On average, about 806 counseling sessions were conducted daily, with an average of 24,527 cases received monthly.
In particular, counseling cases related to stalking totaled 9,017 last year, a 2.3-fold increase over the past three years since 2021. The annual breakdown was ▲2021 (2,710 cases) ▲2022 (6,766 cases) ▲2023 (9,017 cases).
Stalking crimes refer to acts where the perpetrator infringes on the victim’s safety and freedom by following, monitoring, or continuously making the victim aware of their presence and interest. According to the National Police Agency, the number of stalking reports increased by 103.8%, from 14,509 cases in 2021 to 29,565 cases in 2022. However, the rate of detention and investigation of stalking suspects remains low. The detention rate was 7% in 2021, when the 'Stalking Punishment Act' was first enforced, but dropped to 3% in 2022.
The Women's Emergency Hotline 1366 reported that through the operation of emergency shelters, 5,063 victims and their accompanying children were temporarily protected last year.
As of this year, the Women's Emergency Hotline 1366 counseling centers operate 18 locations across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. Women who urgently need rescue, protection, or counseling due to domestic violence, sexual violence, prostitution, etc., can receive counseling 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through the special phone number '1366'.
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