In brief
In a bid to enhance the safety of stalking victims, South Korea's justice ministry has unveiled a mobile application that allows victims to track the real-time location of their stalkers. The development comes in response to increasing public concern over stalking incidents, particularly after several high-profile crimes. This initiative, stemming from an amendment to the country's electronic monitoring law, aims to provide critical location information, thus enabling victims to evacuate to safety more effectively.
South Korean authorities are developing a mobile app for stalking victims to track in real-time the location of their stalkers if they're nearby.
The app, announced by South Korea's justice ministry on Wednesday, is part of an approved amendment to the country's electronic monitoring law.
Stalkers have become a subject of public concern in South Korea, especially as high-profile crimes involving stalking have made headlines in recent years.
Under the current law, stalking victims can receive text message alerts when their stalkers are nearby—though these do not reveal stalkers' exact locations. This makes it difficult for victims to determine the direction of the perpetrator, as noted by the justice ministry.
With the revised law, victims will be able to see their stalker's location on a map via their smartphones, allowing them to evacuate to safety. Authorities already track stalkers using wearable electronic devices.
The justice ministry is also working on integrating this tracking system with the national emergency hotline, ensuring police can be deployed more effectively to protect victims as needed. This integration is expected to be completed next year, according to local media.
Critics of the situation have highlighted the broader issue of violence against women in South Korea. Recent statistics show a surge in reported incidents since the 'Anti-Stalking Law' was introduced in 2021, reflecting a growing public awareness of the problem.
Public outrage surged in 2022 following the murder of a young woman by a male ex-colleague who had stalked her for years without facing sufficient legal action, emphasizing the critical need for improved safety measures for victims.
