National Assembly passes bill to crack down on stalkers
The National Assembly passed a bill unanimously on a 235-0 vote Wednesday to crack down on stalkers. The bill, if it becomes law, will make stalkers face harsher punishment and better protect stalking victims. In this regard, the passage of the bill is welcome although it came belatedly.
Under the current law, the police have been unable to get tough on stalking due to a lack of legal grounds. Stalking has so far been categorized as a misdemeanor and punished with 29 days in jail, or a mere fine of up to 100,000 won ($88). So it has been difficult to root out the crime.
The approval of the bill is meaningful not least because it came 22 years after the Assembly began discussing the issue. It is ― to a large extent ― disappointing that it has taken such a long time to enact the law. The snail's pace of the legislation process has made perpetrators bolder in their criminal acts, while amplifying fear and anxiety on the part of victims.
Now things will change for the better with the legislation. Under the new law, stalkers may face up to three years in prison, or 30 million won in fines. If they use a weapon or other dangerous object, they could face a maximum of five-year imprisonment, or a fine of 50 million won. It is inevitable to strengthen the punishment in order to prevent stalking.
The bill defines stalking as acts of approaching, following or blocking a victim against their will, or act of causing anxiety or fear by allowing people to send objects, texts or videos through mail, by phone or online. Stalking usually takes place when someone repeatedly harasses or threatens someone else, causing fear and safety concerns.
It is important to have a clear definition of the crime. Without it, the police cannot effectively fight stalking. In this sense, the new law is the first step toward cracking down on the crime. It is equally important to effectively enforce the anti-stalking law to attain its intended results.
Yet, enacting the law will not solve the problem once and for all. What's most important is how to prevent stalking as seen in other crimes. Most of all, it is imperative to raise public awareness about stalking which too many people have regarded as falling short of a crime. Such a lenient attitude has made it difficult to eliminate stalking from our society.
Some critics, particularly women, call into question the effectiveness of the new law. The Korea Women's Hotline argues that the law won't be effective because it recognizes stalking as a crime only when it "continuously" or "repeatedly" occurs. It points out that victims can feel anxiety or fear when they experience stalking only once. It is also somewhat ambiguous how to measure fear or anxiety in an objective way.
Lawmakers and law enforcement officials should pay heed to such skepticism and work out measures to battle stalking effectively and better protect victims. It is time to better understand the criminal nature of stalking which may lead to more serious crimes such as sexual violence.
The National Assembly passed a bill unanimously on a 235-0 vote Wednesday to crack down on stalkers. The bill, if it becomes law, will make stalkers face harsher punishment and better protect stalking victims. In this regard, the passage of the bill is welcome although it came belatedly.
Under the current law, the police have been unable to get tough on stalking due to a lack of legal grounds. Stalking has so far been categorized as a misdemeanor and punished with 29 days in jail, or a mere fine of up to 100,000 won ($88). So it has been difficult to root out the crime.
The approval of the bill is meaningful not least because it came 22 years after the Assembly began discussing the issue. It is ― to a large extent ― disappointing that it has taken such a long time to enact the law. The snail's pace of the legislation process has made perpetrators bolder in their criminal acts, while amplifying fear and anxiety on the part of victims.
Now things will change for the better with the legislation. Under the new law, stalkers may face up to three years in prison, or 30 million won in fines. If they use a weapon or other dangerous object, they could face a maximum of five-year imprisonment, or a fine of 50 million won. It is inevitable to strengthen the punishment in order to prevent stalking.
The bill defines stalking as acts of approaching, following or blocking a victim against their will, or act of causing anxiety or fear by allowing people to send objects, texts or videos through mail, by phone or online. Stalking usually takes place when someone repeatedly harasses or threatens someone else, causing fear and safety concerns.
It is important to have a clear definition of the crime. Without it, the police cannot effectively fight stalking. In this sense, the new law is the first step toward cracking down on the crime. It is equally important to effectively enforce the anti-stalking law to attain its intended results.
Yet, enacting the law will not solve the problem once and for all. What's most important is how to prevent stalking as seen in other crimes. Most of all, it is imperative to raise public awareness about stalking which too many people have regarded as falling short of a crime. Such a lenient attitude has made it difficult to eliminate stalking from our society.
Some critics, particularly women, call into question the effectiveness of the new law. The Korea Women's Hotline argues that the law won't be effective because it recognizes stalking as a crime only when it "continuously" or "repeatedly" occurs. It points out that victims can feel anxiety or fear when they experience stalking only once. It is also somewhat ambiguous how to measure fear or anxiety in an objective way.
Lawmakers and law enforcement officials should pay heed to such skepticism and work out measures to battle stalking effectively and better protect victims. It is time to better understand the criminal nature of stalking which may lead to more serious crimes such as sexual violence.
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