Innovative App to Empower Stalking Victims in South Korea

Thu Dec 04 2025 12:21:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The South Korean Justice Ministry develops a new app allowing victims to track their stalkers' real-time locations, enhancing safety and response measures.

The South Korean government is introducing a mobile app aimed at helping stalking victims by providing them real-time tracking of their stalkers' locations. This initiative follows a worrying rise in stalking incidents and high-profile cases that have raised public concern over safety. The app will form part of a broader amendment to existing laws, enabling victims to evacuate to safety more effectively when in proximity to their stalkers.

In a significant move towards enhancing the safety of stalking victims, South Korean authorities have announced the development of a mobile app that will allow these individuals to track the real-time locations of their stalkers, but only when they are in the vicinity.

This initiative, unveiled by the South Korean Justice Ministry, is part of a wider legislative amendment to the country's electronic monitoring law, aimed at addressing the increasing public concern over stalking incidents that have garnered national attention due to tragic outcomes.

Previously, stalking victims received a text alert notifying them of a nearby stalker, but this system lacked specificity regarding the stalker's exact location, making it challenging for victims to gauge safety.

With the introduction of this new app, victims will have access to a mapping system on their smartphones that enables them to see their stalkers' locations, significantly increasing their ability to evade potentially dangerous situations. Authorities utilize wearable electronic devices to track stalkers' movements, facilitating this transparency.

The Justice Ministry expressed intentions to integrate the tracking functionality into the national emergency hotline, which would allow police to respond more effectively and protect victims as necessary. This integration is projected to be finalized by next year.

The urgency of this initiative has been underscored by rising alarm over stalking, particularly amidst wider issues of violence against women in South Korea. The introduction of this app follows the tragic case of a woman who was murdered by a stalker, a situation that ignited public outrage and highlighted systemic flaws in how stalking allegations are handled.

In response to rising incidences of stalking, South Korea has recently taken legislative measures, including a 2021 anti-stalking law that imposes significant penalties on offenders, and has lowered thresholds for prosecution. Reports of stalking incidents soared from approximately 7,600 in 2022 to over 13,000 in 2023, reflecting both increased awareness and reporting as victims feel encouraged to come forward.