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Stalking Crime Protection Stagnates: 'Sindang Station Incident' Repeats in Namyangju 4 Years Later
Stalking Crimes Persist, Protection System Limitations Exposed
A recent stalking murder in Namyangju, similar to the Sindang Station incident four years ago, has once again brought to light the deficiencies in the stalking victim protection system. In the Sindang Station case, the perpetrator, who was on trial for illegal filming and stalking, identified the victim's workplace and murdered her. In the recent Namyangju incident, the victim, despite being provided with a smartwatch, was harmed before police could arrive, indicating a failure in protective measures.
Perpetrator with Electronic Ankle Monitor, Police Under Fire for Inadequate Response
The perpetrator in the Namyangju case had been wearing an electronic ankle monitor for 10 years due to a rape injury charge. Despite the victim reporting a suspicious tracking device on the perpetrator's car twice, the police response was deemed insufficient. While the police stated they sent the device to the National Forensic Service, they failed to prevent the perpetrator from approaching the victim. Even with amendments to the Stalking Punishment Act, the court's approval rate for temporary measures to monitor and detain perpetrators is decreasing. Critics argue that complete separation of victims and perpetrators is not being achieved, and legal experts emphasize the urgent need for more proactive and decisive action from investigative and judicial bodies throughout the entire process, given the high risk of recidivism in stalking crimes.
Calls for Stronger Stalking Protection Measures Mount
Lawyer Min Go-eun pointed out that while criminal punishment focuses on past offenses, victim protection requires active segregation of perpetrators. She criticized the police and courts for their passive stance on strong protective measures like attaching electronic tracking devices or detaining perpetrators in detention centers. Min stressed the urgency of preemptive and firm responses that consider the inherent danger of recidivism in stalking crimes.
*Source: YouTube: 연합뉴스TV (2026-03-17)*
