By Ian Werther in News — 20 Mar 2026

Namyangju stalking case spurs rapid nationwide high-risk enforcement in Korea

South Korea’s National Police Agency is stepping up a nationwide review of relationship-related crimes in the wake of a stalking-murder case in Namyangju. Acting Police Chief Yoo Jae-sung ordered that high-risk individuals, including those subject to electronic monitoring devices, be given swift and strong enforcement actions.

On March 20, Yoo visited Bucheon Wonmi Police Station in Gyeonggi Province to receive a briefing from the head of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency’s Safety Division and the Wonmi Station commander. He used the visit to reinforce the directive that authorities should act decisively within the full scope of current law when high-risk cases are identified.

"Table 3 (overleaf) summarises the share of the population estimated to be at high risk (those that would require hospital admission if infected) for the base case scenario and for a range of alternative scenarios.
" — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Officials say the plan calls for rapid, focused preliminary investigations into high-risk cases characterized by breakup-related offenses, possession of electronic monitoring devices, and violence-prone individuals with three or more related reports. In such cases, the aim is to apply electronic monitoring or detain/arrest warrants within seven days, to the extent permitted by law.

Yoo emphasized that stalking is a predatory crime that destroys daily life and peace of mind for victims, and he ordered stalking cases to be given priority in the ongoing checks. The goal is to prevent further harm by acting quickly on credible risk indicators.

For victims deemed high-risk, Yoo instructed the use of private security and advanced surveillance measures, including intelligent CCTV, alongside other protective interventions. He also urged continuous attention to victims’ safety after the initial sweep.

"Figure 3 in the main paper shows the share of the population at risk in different countries based on real-world differences in population
structure and disease prevalence. This information is important when calculating the numbers that might need to be shielded or vaccinated
but does not allow direct comparison of risks at equivalent ages in different countries. In this alternative version (see below), circles have
been added to show the age-standardised share of the population at high risk (black circles) and increased risk (open circles). These assume
each country has the same WHO standard reference population.17 A low age-adjusted population at risk in countries with older populations
(eg, Japan, Europe and Puerto Rico) helps to confirm that older age is the main reason why these countries have a high unadjusted
population at risk. Similarly, a high age-adjusted population at risk in African countries with high HIV prevalence (eg, eSwatini, Lesotho)
and small island nations with high diabetes prevalence (eg. Fiji, Mauritius) explains why these countries have a high unadjusted population
at risk, despite having younger populations. Differences in demography can mask important differences in age-specific risks that may be
revealed by age-standardisation. For example, in eSwatini and New Zealand the population at high risk is 5% in both countries, but when
risks are compared for equivalent age groups (within the spreadsheet tool) the age-specific risks in eSwatini are more than double those in
New Zealand (consistent with eSwatini having a higher age-adjusted population at high risk ie, 8% vs 3%). Thus, although younger
populations will tend to have a lower share of the population at risk than older populations, their risk at equivalent ages could still be higher.

" — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

During the visit, Yoo spoke with front-line staff and acknowledged the practical difficulties in on-the-ground responses due to institutional limitations. He said interagency collaboration would be pursued to accelerate policy and legislative improvements related to relationship violence and stalking.

Context for international readers: the Namyangju case has drawn attention to how Korea handles domestic violence, stalking, and related offenses, including the use of electronic monitoring and enhanced protective measures. The approach reflects a broader trend toward tech-enabled, rapid interventions and cross-ministerial policy reforms, topics of potential relevance to U.S. policymakers and security and public-safety professionals as they consider victim protections, law-enforcement tools, and the role of digital surveillance in preventing violence.

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