"Not Love but Violence"... Police Launch Major Crackdown on 'Dating Violence'

41.4% Surge Over 3 Years... 10,000 Arrests Annually
Police Operate 'Dating Violence Eradication TF'
Active Response to Reports, Protection and Support for Victims

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Police Agency announced on the 28th that it will operate a 'Dating Violence Intensive Reporting Period' for two months from July 1 to August 31.

Dating violence is considered one of the representative forms of 'gender violence' that threaten women's safety. Due to the nature of being 'partners,' victims tend to be reluctant to report or seek help until they feel a serious threat. However, since it has a high potential to escalate into serious crimes such as assault, murder, confinement, and sexual crimes, active assistance from the police or counseling agencies is necessary from the early stages.

In particular, the number of reported dating violence cases increased by 41.1% over the past three years, from 14,136 cases in 2017 to 18,671 in 2018, and 19,940 last year. During this period, the number of people criminally charged remained around 10,000, with 10,303, 10,245, and 9,858 people charged respectively. As of last year, the most common charges were assault and injury with 7,003 people, and there were also 1,067 cases of arrest, confinement, and threats. There were 35 cases of murder (including attempted murder).

Accordingly, the police plan to actively respond to reported dating violence cases centered on the 'Dating Violence Eradication Task Force' operating at police stations nationwide. The TF is composed of the head of the criminal division of the police station and includes support teams, counseling specialist teams, investigation teams, and victim protection teams, enabling a comprehensive response.

Report on Dating Violence and Status by Type. [Data from the National Police Agency]

The police will conduct a thorough investigation considering the circumstances of the crime, the extent of the damage, the perpetrator's criminal record, and any additional offenses to prevent recurrence, strictly prosecuting offenders. Even cases that do not lead to criminal charges will be carefully examined for habitual offenses and may be subject to the Minor Offenses Act. Furthermore, the police will actively consider applying self-defense in cases where the victim's actions were in response to the perpetrator's behavior.

To ensure victims can report safely, tailored personal protection activities such as ▲providing smartwatches ▲strengthening patrols around residences ▲post-incident monitoring will be implemented. Through victim-dedicated police officers, multi-faceted support including connections to specialized agencies and emergency living and medical expenses will also be provided.

A National Police Agency official stated, "We will continue to strengthen our response so that the perception that dating violence is an unacceptable crime spreads throughout society," and urged, "Please trust the police's efforts and victim protection measures and actively report incidents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.