South Korean authorities are developing a mobile app that will allow stalking victims to see the real-time location of their stalkers if they are nearby, BBC reports. The justice ministry announced the initiative on Wednesday, saying it follows an approved amendment to the country’s electronic monitoring law.
Stalking has become a growing public concern in South Korea, especially after several high-profile crimes. Currently, victims can receive text alerts when their stalkers are close, but these messages do not show exact locations, making it hard to determine the direction of the threat.
Under the revised law, the new app will display stalkers’ locations on a map via smartphones, enabling victims to move to safety. Authorities will track perpetrators using wearable electronic devices, and plans are underway to link the system to the national emergency hotline so police can respond quickly. Integration is expected to be completed next year, local media reported.
Critics have highlighted the broader issue of violence against women in South Korea, including cases of secret filming and threats against feminists. In 2022, public outrage followed the murder of a young woman by a male ex-colleague who had been stalking her for years, despite police being informed.
South Korea introduced an anti-stalking law in 2021, imposing up to three years in prison and fines of 30 mln won ($20,400; £15,300). The law was revised in 2023 to make prosecuting stalkers easier. Reports of stalking have risen sharply since then, from 7,600 in 2022 to more than 13,000 last year, according to the justice ministry.
