Why a special statute
Before 2021, Korea patched stalking with minor-offense, cyber and general criminal codes, so repeated harassment was often treated lightly despite clear victim harm (Pathé & Mullen, 1997; Tjaden & Thoennes, 1998). The Act names stalking as its own crime.
What the law covers
Unwanted approaches, shadowing, waiting near home/work/school, messages or objects via post/phone/online, leaving or damaging items, doxing or impersonation—done continuously or repeatedly to cause fear—can be stalking crimes (Ministry of Justice, 2021).
| Tier | Summary |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | ≤3 years or fine ≤ KRW 30m |
| With dangerous weapon | ≤5 years or fine ≤ 50m |
| Orders | 100m no-approach, telecom ban, detention |
| Add-ons | Education, treatment, probation |
Reporting and neighboring issues
Call 112 for ongoing danger; police may issue emergency measures and prosecutors can seek court provisional orders. Online smears may overlap defamation debates, and account takeovers can resemble voice-phishing patterns. Partner stalking is often coercive control, not romance (Logan & Walker, 2009).
Safety checklist
- State a clear refusal and avoid one-on-one meetings.
- Harden home/work security and account MFA.
- Use victim-support and legal-aid services in parallel.
FAQ
- Is one visit enough for a charge?
- A single act may not meet the 'repeated' crime element, but you can still seek police intervention.
- Does ex-partner contact count?
- Unwanted repeated contact or shadowing can qualify—document and report.
Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
References
- Pathé, M., & Mullen, P. E. (1997). The impact of stalkers on their victims. British Journal of Psychiatry, 170(1), 12–17. Documents anxiety, depression and life disruption among stalking victims.
- Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N. (1998). Stalking in America: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. U.S. Department of Justice. National survey estimates of stalking prevalence and prior-partner cases.
- Meloy, J. R. (1998). The psychology of stalking: Clinical and forensic perspectives. Academic Press. Clinical and forensic overview of stalker motives and risk.
- 스토킹범죄의 처벌 등에 관한 법률. Korea's Stalking Punishment Act (in force 21 Oct 2021).
- 법무부. (2021). 스토킹범죄의 처벌 등에 관한 법률 제정 공포 안내. Ministry of Justice summary of definitions, emergency measures and penalties.
- 찾기쉬운 생활법령정보. (n.d.). 스토킹범죄. Plain-language guide to reporting, emergency orders and victim support.
- Sheridan, L. P., & Grant, T. (2007). Is cyberstalking different? Psychology, Crime & Law, 13(6), 627–640. Compares cyberstalking with offline stalking patterns.