South Korea working on app that displays stalkers' real-time location

Authorities in South Korea are working on a new mobile application that will allow stalking victims to see the real-time locations of their stalkers if they are nearby. The initiative, revealed by the Justice Ministry on Wednesday, stems from an amendment recently approved to the nation's electronic monitoring law.

Stalking has increasingly become a pressing issue in South Korea, highlighted by several high-profile criminal cases in recent years. Previously, the law only allowed victims to receive text alerts when a stalker was in the vicinity, without providing precise location details. This limitation made it challenging for individuals to determine the stalkers direction or respond appropriately, according to the ministry.

Under the updated legislation, victims will now be able to view a stalker's location directly on a map via their smartphones, giving them the ability to quickly move to safety. Authorities will monitor offenders through wearable electronic devices. Plans are also underway to link this tracking system with the national emergency hotline, enabling rapid police intervention when necessary. Media reports suggest this integration could be operational by next year.

The issue of stalking has fueled public debate in South Korea, often intersecting with broader concerns about violence against women. Many women have experienced harassment, including being secretly filmed or threatened for expressing feminist views. Public outrage has grown following tragic incidents, such as the 2022 murder of a woman by a former colleague who had been stalking her for years, despite her reporting him to the authorities.

South Korea's anti-stalking legislation, introduced in 2021, allows for penalties of up to three years in prison or fines reaching 30 million Korean won ($20,400). Revisions made in 2023 lowered the threshold for prosecuting offenders, resulting in a significant rise in reported stalking casesfrom 7,600 in 2022 to over 13,000 in the following year, according to Justice Ministry statistics.

Author: Chloe Ramirez