A Man Who 'Chased 46km' After Briefly Encountering a Woman at a Highway Rest Area, Police Investigate

A male driver who followed a woman for over 40 km after encountering her at a highway rest area, causing her distress. Photo by Internet Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] A man who chased a woman he encountered at a highway rest area for over 40 km is set to be investigated by the police.

On the 1st, the Gwangju Western Police Station announced that they plan to book and investigate Mr. A (39) on charges including causing anxiety under the Minor Offenses Act.

Mr. A is accused of following a woman in her 30s, Ms. B, from the Jeonbuk Gangcheonsa Rest Area to the Pungam Police Substation in Seo-gu, Gwangju, a distance of 46 km, on the afternoon of the 23rd of last month.

Mr. A has a history of multiple punishments for offenses such as assault and was reportedly involved in another criminal case, making him a subject of police investigation.

Ms. B felt anxious when Mr. A, who was acting suspiciously at the Gangcheonsa Rest Area, started following her and sought help at the Pungam Police Substation.

However, at that time, the police took no significant action, stating that "there was no criminal act, so nothing could be done."

Ms. B posted about the incident and the police's inaction on an online community, and the post spread on social networking services (SNS), sparking controversy.

During the police investigation, Mr. A reportedly stated, "We just happened to be going the same way." The police plan to combine this case with Mr. A's existing criminal cases for investigation.

The "Stalking Crime Punishment Act," passed by the National Assembly last month, defines acts such as approaching or following someone without justifiable reason as stalking, with penalties of up to five years in prison depending on the severity of the crime.

However, since the law is scheduled to take effect in September, it appears difficult to apply it to Mr. A at this time.

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