Stalking followed by murder averages 16 cases a year, data show

58 stalking murders, attempted murders in 3 years

Experts call stalking a clear precursor to lethal violence

A press conference related to the Namyangju stalking murder case is held in front of the fountain at Cheong Wa Dae on March 17. [Yonhap]

Suspects with a confirmed history of stalking committed murder or attempted murder at an average of about 16 cases per year over the past three years, newly released police data show.

Data submitted Thursday by the Korean National Police Agency to the office of Rep. Lee Sang-sik of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, show that 58 stalking-related murders and attempted murders occurred from 2023 — when the agency began tracking the figures — through the first half of this year. By year, the cases numbered 18 in 2023, 13 in 2024 and 19 in 2025; eight more were recorded through June of this year. The tally covers cases in which the suspect had previously been reported for stalking, as well as cases in which prior stalking behavior was confirmed during the murder or attempted murder investigation.

Women made up the vast majority of victims. Of 18 cases in 2023, 16 involved female victims; in 2024, 12 of 13; and in 2025, 17 of 19. This year, seven of the eight cases recorded through June had female victims. The agency said it does not separately track or release data on the sex of suspects.

A breakdown of suspects who committed murder or attempted murder after stalking, from 2023 — when the Korean National Police Agency began tracking the figures — through June of this year. [Office of Rep. Lee Sang-sik]

The Korean National Police Agency has been stepping up its response to relationship-based crimes. Acting Police Commissioner General Yoo Jae-seong, in a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday, pledged to put measures in place to prevent such crimes from escalating into serious violence. "For stalking cases, we will apply the principle of same-day investigation upon receipt of every report, and systematically manage the entire process — from intake to victim protection to separation of the perpetrator," Yoo said. "We plan to block stalking from developing into murder and other serious crimes." He also said the agency would elevate the Crime Victim Protection Unit under the Public Safety and Traffic Bureau to full division status and pursue the establishment of a new Women and Youth Safety Bureau.

President Lee Jae Myung has consistently called for a firm response to stalking and other relationship-based crimes. In March, Lee criticized authorities over the case in which Kim Hun, 44, killed a woman in her 20s he had been stalking in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, saying the response "was too slow and fell far short of what the public expects." Kim had been reported again in January after continuing to stalk the victim despite receiving a restraining order about 10 months before the killing. He ignored two police summons, placing him in line for detention. But the tragedy unfolded while police delayed filing for an arrest warrant.

At a senior secretary meeting in July last year, Lee also said: "There was an outrageous case in the news recently where someone was ultimately killed after reporting stalking three times, yet the relevant authorities failed to take the necessary action. Please make sure this never happens again."

Criminal justice experts say stalking is a clear warning sign of serious violence to come. Shin Jin-hee, a public defender who has long specialized in representing sex crime victims, said "stalking is a hallmark precursor to violence and murder." Shin added that the Namyangju case exposed how inadequate provisional measures such as electronic monitoring are, and called for swift physical separation of perpetrators from victims. Women's and human rights groups had earlier made a similar call in connection with the Namyangju case, saying authorities could no longer stand by while victims were killed or placed at risk of being killed despite repeated reports. They urged police to separate perpetrators from victims' daily lives through active measures including arrest, detention and custody.

Rep. Lee said the stalking murders "lay bare the limits of the victim protection system," adding that for existing emergency and provisional measures to be effective, authorities must move beyond procedural formalities and put substantive safeguards for victims in place.

arin@heraldcorp.com