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New app to give stalking victims live location data
South Korean officials announced plans Wednesday to launch a mobile application that lets stalking victims monitor their perpetrators' exact whereabouts in real time.
Current system falls short
Under existing rules, victims receive text alerts when a stalker is nearby, but the messages do not disclose the stalker's precise location or direction. The justice ministry called the limitation "a serious gap in protection."
How the new system works
The updated electronic-monitoring law will allow victims to view a live map on their smartphones showing the stalker's position. Authorities track offenders using ankle or wrist monitors.
The ministry is also linking the tracking data to the national emergency hotline, enabling police to dispatch officers quickly if a victim is at risk. The integration is scheduled for completion in 2026.
Stalking crisis sparks legal reforms
Public outrage over high-profile stalking cases-including the 2022 murder of a young woman by a former colleague who had stalked her for years-prompted lawmakers to strengthen penalties.
In 2021, South Korea enacted an anti-stalking law imposing up to three years in prison and fines of 30 million won ($20,400). A 2023 amendment lowered the threshold for prosecution, leading to a surge in reports: from 7,600 in 2022 to over 13,000 last year.
Critics link stalking to broader gender violence
Advocates argue that stalking is part of a larger pattern of violence against women in South Korea, citing widespread spy-camera crimes and threats against feminists. Many victims say police have dismissed their complaints as "low risk," leaving them vulnerable.
"The new app is a step forward, but systemic change is still needed to protect women from harassment and assault,"
a Seoul-based women's rights group said in a statement.
Next steps
The justice ministry expects to finalize the app's development and begin pilot testing in early 2026, with full deployment later that year.
