Preface

South Korea is taking a significant stride in enhancing safety for stalking victims by developing an innovative mobile app. Announced by South Korea's justice ministry, this app allows victims to trace their stalkers' locations in real-time. The app forms part of a vital amendment to the nation's electronic monitoring law, aimed at addressing soaring public concern following a rise in stalking-related crimes.

Lazy bag

South Korea's revolutionary app provides real-time stalker location updates, giving victims a vital tool to escape and seek safety. Integration with national emergency services is underway.

Main Body

In response to increasing crimes involving stalking in South Korea, the government is developing a transformative app dedicated to ensuring the safety of those at risk. This initiative, announced by the justice ministry, highlights significant changes in the electronic monitoring law to include technological advancements in protecting vulnerable citizens.

Previously, stalking victims were only able to receive alerts via text messages when their stalkers were nearby. These alerts failed to provide precise location details, leaving victims uncertain about the direction and proximity of their perpetrators, as noted by the justice ministry. The current enhancement aims to grant victims real-time access to their stalkers' locations on a digital map, directly on their smartphones, allowing for strategic exits to safety.

This app operates through authorities' use of wearable electronic tracking devices to monitor stalkers’ movements. Integrating this system with the national emergency hotline is a critical objective, enabling law enforcement to respond swiftly and offer protection as needed, with completion anticipated by next year, according to local reports.

Despite the rollout of an anti-stalking law in 2021, imposing severe penalties including up to three years in prison, public unease persists. Incidents such as the high-profile murder in 2022 of a young woman by her ex-colleague—who evaded a restraining order due to a "low risk" assessment—have intensified calls for robust preventive measures. The legislative environment also evolved in 2023 with lowered prosecution barriers for stalking cases, prompting a rise in reported incidents from 7,600 in 2022 to over 13,000.

Critics illuminate the broader context of gender-based violence in South Korea, noting the persistence of harassment and offenses such as the non-consensual filming of women. The development of this app stands as a testament to ongoing reforms addressing these systemic issues, offering hope for a substantial reduction in stalking-related crimes and improved safety for at-risk individuals.

Key Insights Table