A sharp rise in reports of relationship-based crimes such as stalking and dating violence is straining the women and juvenile divisions of front-line police stations, which handle both investigations and victim protection. Officers say more staff and funding are needed as their duties have expanded beyond processing reports to include safety measures and follow-up monitoring.
Reports of relationship-based crimes rose 50.3% over four years, from 316,542 in 2021 to 475,637 last year, according to the Korean National Police Agency on the 14th. Stalking reports more than tripled to 44,687 from 14,509, while dating violence reports climbed 83.8% to 105,327 from 57,305.
Victim protection work has grown as well. Safety measures for crime victims increased to more than 32,000 as of November last year from 24,810 in 2021, while private security assignments roughly quadrupled to 384 from 98 in 2023. The rise in reports has translated not only into more investigations but also into expanded work protecting victims and managing cases afterward.
On the ground, investigations of new cases overlap with the management of existing victims. One police station in Seoul holds two meetings a day to review case progress, victim protection and emergency call responses. In stalking cases, provisional measures can remain in force even after a case is referred to prosecutors, extending the protection duties of police. Even after a case closes, continued management for a set period is often necessary if risks to the victim remain.
Yet the number of officers assigned to women and juvenile functions nationwide stood at 3,730 at the end of 2024, about one-fifth of the 18,285 officers in criminal investigation functions. "Cases handled by these units require victim protection alongside the investigation, so each one takes more time," a police official said. "It is also hard to say that stalking reports have peaked." The comments point to reinforcements on the ground that have not kept pace with the growth in reports.
There are also limits to sharing the workload with related agencies. Police began jointly monitoring victims with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and counseling organizations this year, but the referral rate is below 30%. While specialized institutions can provide counseling and treatment, direct safety measures remain the responsibility of police. "Along with expanding protective tools, the staff and budget to operate them must also be supported," the police official said.
