What behaviors would South Korea’s proposed stalking law amendment criminalize?

The proposal covers nine forms of controlling behavior within a relationship, including tracking a person’s whereabouts, monitoring social media, controlling access to private information, threatening pets and isolating the person from others.

Gov't to add 9 types of behavior to legal definition of stalking

Q: Why does the Justice Ministry say South Korea needs to expand its legal definition of stalking?

The ministry said the behaviors are not currently recognized as distinct forms of stalking, which limits law enforcement’s ability to intervene unless they involve physical assault or bodily injury. The proposed change is intended to allow authorities to protect victims before situations escalate into violence.

Q: What penalties and protective measures would apply under the proposed stalking amendment?

Continuous or repetitive stalking behavior would carry a penalty of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won, regardless of the victim’s wishes. Authorities could also impose interim measures such as restraining orders and electronic monitoring devices.

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Summary

The government proposed an amendment to the Act on Punishment of Crime of Stalking on Oct. 26 to make nine types of controlling behavior within a relationship criminal offenses. The Justice Ministry said the change would let authorities intervene before situations escalate into violence, including through restraining orders and electronic monitoring devices. Under the proposal, continuous or repetitive stalking behavior would be punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won, regardless of the victim’s wishes.

Key Facts

The nine behaviors include forcing someone to maintain a relationship, tracking their whereabouts, monitoring their social media, exercising digital control, interfering with social relationships, controlling access to private information, creating threats or fear, threatening pets and isolating the person from others.
The ministry said current law does not recognize these actions as distinct forms of stalking, limiting law enforcement intervention unless physical assault or bodily injury is involved.
The proposed interim measures include restraining orders and electronic monitoring devices.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 3, 2026 3:11 pm KST

The government is pushing to expand the definition of stalking to include tracking victims' locations and monitoring their social media activity, among other actions, as part of efforts to swiftly separate perpetrators from victims, the justice ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry said an amendment to the Act on Punishment of Crime of Stalking was proposed Oct. 26 to make nine types of controlling behavior within a relationship criminal offenses.

The nine types of behavior are forcing victims to maintain a relationship, tracking their whereabouts, notifying them that they are being monitored, exercising digital control over them, interfering with their social relationships, controlling their access to or use of private information, creating threats or instilling fear, threatening their pets and isolating them from others.

Under current law, these acts are not recognized as distinct forms of stalking, limiting law enforcement's ability to intervene unless they involve physical assault or bodily injury.

If the amendment takes effect, authorities will be able to protect victims before situations escalate into violence by imposing interim measures, such as restraining orders and electronic monitoring devices, the ministry said.

Engaging in such stalking behavior on a continuous or repetitive basis is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,400), regardless of the victim's wishes.

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