The shortcoming of South Korea's justice system in protecting victims of abusive relationships
South Korea is grappling with legal and systemic issues in addressing dating violence, particularly when victims are under police protection and perpetrators are former romantic partners. Over the past three years, at least 14 women have been killed despite being granted protective measures by the police [1].
The current protective measures, which include increased patrolling, temporary accommodations, bodyguards, and electronic tracking devices, have proven ineffective in preventing these tragedies [1]. The cases often involve former romantic partners, who are the most frequent perpetrators among intimate partner violence deaths [1].
One of the major challenges is the prosecution's rejection or limitation of protective orders and detention requests. Prosecutors have dismissed requests for temporary restraining orders or detention, citing insufficient evidence, incomplete risk assessments, or subjective judgments about the repetitiveness or severity of stalking or violence [2].
Women's rights groups and public outcry have led to proposals to address these issues. These include mandatory arrest policies for all violence against women cases, revision and strengthening of domestic violence and anti-stalking laws, enhanced coordination between police and prosecutors, use of detention of perpetrators and mandatory electronic monitoring, and reform in how police handle emergency calls [1][2][3].
Police can request the courts to order the temporary separation of a couple or a partner's detention in cases of stalking or violence within legal or common-law marriages, but not for unmarried couples unless stalking can be proven [4]. In only one of the four recent stalking cases was a suspect detained under the anti-stalking law, but this was rejected by prosecutors [4].
A study conducted in 2024 found that 80 percent of repeat intimate partner assaults occur within a month of the initial offense, and the time between attacks shrinks with each new incident [5]. Six of the perpetrators were ex-boyfriends, followed by three legal spouses, two common-law partners, two ex-husbands, and one former colleague [4].
Nine bills relating to dating violence are currently pending in the National Assembly, proposing either a new dating violence prevention act or amendments to existing domestic or stalking laws to include dating relationships [6]. However, debate over how to define a "dating relationship" in legal terms has stalled the progress of these bills [6].
In one of the cases, the victim had filed four reports against her former boyfriend in a year, yet he was only charged with assault and trespassing [4]. Between 2022 and July 2025, 14 women under police protection died, with 5 deaths in 2022, 3 in 2023, 2 in 2024, and 4 more in the first half of 2025 [1]. In all but one of the cases, the perpetrator was a former romantic partner [4].
These statistics highlight systemic flaws and the ineffectiveness of current protection systems. The proposed reforms aim to close these protection gaps and provide better protection for victims of dating violence.
References:
[1] Yonhap News Agency. (2025, August 1). 14 women killed by former partners despite police protection in South Korea. Retrieved from https://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2025/08/01/0200000/14-women-killed-by-former-partners-despite-police-protection-in-south-korea,030100000.html
[2] Kim, H. (2025, July 20). Proposals to address dating violence in South Korea. Retrieved from https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2025/07/203_300262.html
[3] Park, J. (2025, June 15). Attorney and former police chief discuss challenges in addressing dating violence in South Korea. Retrieved from https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20250615000815
[4] Lee, S. (2025, June 8). Recent stalking cases in South Korea and the challenges in prosecution. Retrieved from https://www.koreaexpose.com/2025/06/08/recent-stalking-cases-in-south-korea-and-the-challenges-in-prosecution/
[5] Lee, J. (2024, November 1). Study finds repeat intimate partner assaults in South Korea. Retrieved from https://www.koreabizwire.com/view.php?id=26965
[6] Choi, M. (2025, April 15). Bills relating to dating violence in the National Assembly. Retrieved from https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2025/04/203_300247.html
- The current health-and-wellness crisis in South Korea, specifically the rising number of tragic incidents involving dating violence against women, has led to policy-and-legislation reform suggestions, such as mandatory arrest policies for all violence against women cases and revisions to domestic violence and anti-stalking laws.
- The ongoing debate over defining a "dating relationship" in legal terms has hindered the progress of nine pending bills in the National Assembly that aim to enact a new dating violence prevention act or amend current domestic or stalking laws.
- In the realm of politics and general news, the systemic flaws and ineffectiveness of South Korea's protection systems – as highlighted by statistics showing the deaths of 14 women under police protection at the hands of former romantic partners – have sparked calls for science-backed reforms to better address and prevent dating violence.
