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This undated file photo shows the logo of the Korean police service.

Stalking perpetrators who violate warnings and approach or threaten victims will be held in detention for up to a month.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced new measures to strengthen its response to crimes of stalking on Wednesday. This new strategy comes as a response to criticism of the police’s handling of such crimes after a woman in Seoul was slain by her stalker on Nov. 19 while under police protection.

The police are introducing an “early warning system” related to stalking. With this, from the beginning of the incident, the on-site manager — a police chief, manager or team leader in charge — will determine the level of risk, then intervene.

All stalking cases will be responded to after determining the level of risk among three stages: “caution,” “crisis,” and “severe.” If it's a one-time offense, the perpetrator will receive a written warning and will be prohibited from coming into contact with the victim.

The police explained that if the situation is determined to be at the highest level of risk, they will actively seek to secure the suspect’s whereabouts, such as by arresting the offender and taking them into custody, and will promptly carry out investigations and produce charges. The police noted that suspects may be held in custody for up to a month.

Shortcomings in the reporting and dispatching stages are also being improved. The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s has set up a separate task force especially for what they call “sensitive cases” that will deal with calls and reports related to stalking, sexual violence, domestic violence, child abuse, dating violence, and personal protection as well as provide necessary information about these cases in a timely manner.

By Park Su-ji, staff reporter

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