"Pressing the Doorbell, Sending Texts"... Consecutive Arrests Following the Enforcement of the Stalking Punishment Act

451 Reports Filed in 5 Days Since Stalking Punishment Act Enforcement
Cases of Arrests Also Continue Across the Country

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Since the enforcement of the Stalking Punishment Act, cases applying this law and resulting in arrests have been increasing.

According to the National Police Agency on the 26th, a total of 451 stalking-related reports were received nationwide over five days from the first day of enforcement on the 21st to the 25th. This averages about 113 cases per day. Considering that from January this year until the day before enforcement on the 20th, there were 6,939 related reports over about 10 months, averaging 24 cases per day, the number of stalking crime reports has significantly increased since the law took effect. In the southern Gyeonggi region, the first case of repeated high-level stalking crimes resulting in detention was also reported.

On the first day of enforcement, the 21st, in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, a man who visited his ex-girlfriend's house and rang the doorbell multiple times was apprehended by the police. The Stalking Punishment Act was applied to this man. In Sejong City, a man in his 40s who visited his ex-girlfriend's house and rang the doorbell was booked without detention on suspicion of violating the Stalking Punishment Act and is under investigation. Despite warnings from responding police officers about the possibility of violating the Stalking Punishment Act, he repeated ringing the doorbell an hour later and was arrested by the police.

On the 24th, the first case of booking was reported in Seoul. A 39-year-old man visited his ex-girlfriend's house and sent multiple threatening texts and emails, resulting in a non-detained booking at the Dongdaemun Police Station in Seoul. The man is suspected of visiting the residence of his ex-girlfriend, whom he had dated for three years and broke up with about a month ago, at around 8:58 p.m. on the 23rd and sending multiple threatening messages via mobile phone. He rang the doorbell at the ex-girlfriend’s residence and was stopped by police who responded to a report, but then sent threatening messages to the ex-girlfriend questioning why she reported to the police and sent threatening emails the next day. However, the man avoided punishment as the victim submitted a letter of withdrawal of complaint to the police.

The newly enforced Stalking Punishment Act defines stalking crimes as cases where stalking behavior continues or repeats despite expressing refusal, as in these examples. Specifically, it includes △ approaching or following the other party against their will △ blocking the path or waiting and watching near the residence △ sending objects, writings, videos, etc., via mail, phone, internet, fax, or information communication networks △ damaging objects at or near the residence. Repeated stalking crimes can result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won, and if a weapon is possessed, imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won can be imposed.

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