Seoul: A new mobile application will soon enable victims of stalking to monitor their stalkers' locations, the justice ministry announced on Sunday. This development is part of a broader effort by authorities to enhance protection for individuals at risk, following the tragic murder of a young woman last month.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the application is scheduled for launch in June after an initial trial phase. It will allow victims to track the location of a stalker who is equipped with an ankle monitor, particularly when the individual approaches within a certain distance. This initiative comes in response to public outcry and criticism directed at authorities after a stalker, despite being under multiple restraining orders and monitored by an ankle device, was able to murder a woman in her 20s. The victim, who was also under police protection and wearing a smartwatch, unfortunately succumbed to the attack.

Efforts are underway by the ministry to integrate this location-tracking system with the police reporting framework. This integration aims to enable law enforcement to respond more swiftly to situations involving stalking victims and their perpetrators. The urgency of such measures is underscored by statistics from 2024, which recorded 13,533 stalking cases, marking a 12.3 percent increase from the previous year. Notably, 54.2 percent of these crimes involved current or former intimate partners, with 76.2 percent of offenders being men.

South Korea's legal landscape regarding stalking saw a significant change in 2021 with the enactment of an anti-stalking law. This legislation criminalizes stalking and imposes penalties of up to three years in prison for offenders. Those carrying weapons during such offenses face a maximum prison term of five years.