Bills would eliminate victim-consent requirement for prosecution, impose harsher penalties on repeat offenders, and create a separate offense for strangulation regardless of injury
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Dong-a has introduced two bills aimed at strengthening penalties for dating violence perpetrators and expanding protections for victims.
According to Kim, the proposed amendments would add dating violence provisions to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Domestic Violence Crimes and the Act on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims.
The bills would broaden the definition of a dating relationship beyond established romantic partnerships to include brief contacts or meetings made in pursuit of a future relationship. They would also allow police to classify dating violence perpetrators as high-risk offenders subject to ongoing monitoring, and to continue investigations regardless of whether a victim expresses a wish not to pursue charges.
The legislation would eliminate the provision allowing prosecution to be dropped at a victim's request, and would establish grounds for enhanced punishment of repeat offenders. The intent is to ensure investigations are not halted even when a victim states a desire not to press charges under pressure or threats from the perpetrator.
The bills would also create a separate offense for strangulation — acts that obstruct breathing — regardless of whether physical injury results. Given the high risk that strangulation escalates to homicide or other serious crimes, the legislation aims to enable early separation of perpetrators and a firm response from the outset of a case.
"The detention rate for dating violence perpetrators currently stands at a mere 2.5 percent," Kim said. "We can no longer allow relationships that put lives at risk, or daily lives lived in fear, to go unaddressed."
Kim, who is running for chair of the Democratic Party's national youth committee, said that if elected, passing the bills would not be enough. "If I become chair of the national youth committee, I will make eradicating dating violence the top priority of the Democratic Party's youth committee," Kim said.
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