By Kim Jae-heun
Police will now be able take perpetrators of domestic violence into custody at the scene of alleged crimes, as a part of new regulations to curb such assaults.
In addition assailants who disregard restraining orders can be immediately detained and placed behind bars.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, together with the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency (NPA) announced the new preventative measures Tuesday.
“Our new measures are distinguished from previous ones in that they separate attackers from their victims to protect the latter and put an end to the era where violence has been justified under the name of maintaining the family,” Gender Equality and Family Minister Jin Sun-mee said in a joint media briefing at the government complex in Seoul.
The rapid changes come after a case in October in which a man murdered his ex-wife after decades of domestic violence and stalking that continued after their divorce. The related government bodies have since been discussing new measures to strengthen both the punishment of perpetrators and protection for victims.
With the new regulations, officers will be able to detain a domestic violence assailant to separate them from their family. Until now, officers could only prevent violent acts taking place and take the victim to a counseling center if they agreed.
Law enforcement authorities will seek an arrest warrant to investigate assailants who use weapons or are habitual offenders.
If an offender does not obey a court order to stay away from the victim, they can face a prison term, much stronger than the current fine.
The restraining order can be requested by the victim or family members and covers all areas they go to, a change from the current rule under which an order is made for a particular place such as a residence or office.
The new regulations also restrict visitation rights to children while the perpetrator is under such an order.
“Even if the victim does not want the offender prosecuted, the police will actively seek measures to separate the two, considering the chances of repetition,” Kim Chang-ryong, an NPA official, said.
Counselors at domestic violence consultation centers will visit victims' homes to give advice and provide free legal support if requested.
For victims without the ability to support themselves, the government will run job training programs at the centers.
The administration also said it will open five new centers for marriage migrants exposed to domestic violence that give help in translation, and permission to stay in Korea issues.