• South Korea develops app to track stalkers
• New law eases protection for harassment victims

South Korean authorities are developing a mobile app that allows harassment victims to track the real-time location of their stalkers if they are nearby.

The Justice Ministry announced that the app comes as part of a recently approved amendment to the electronic monitoring law.

The ministry explained that victims currently face difficulty determining the direction of their stalkers despite receiving text alerts under existing law, which do not reveal precise locations.

Under the revised law, victims will be able to see their stalker’s location on a map via their smartphones, enabling them to move to safe areas.

Authorities use wearable electronic devices to monitor stalkers’ movements, and the ministry is working to integrate the tracking system with the national emergency hotline to ensure police intervention when needed. This integration is expected to be completed next year.

Public concern over harassment has risen in South Korea, especially after high-profile cases in recent years.

Justice Ministry data show reports against stalkers rose from 7,600 in 2022 to over 13,000 last year.

The South Korean parliament amended the anti-stalking law in 2023 to make prosecuting stalkers easier, following the original 2021 law that carries penalties of up to three years in prison and fines up to 30 million Korean won.