On March 16, President Lee Jae-myung sharply criticized authorities’ slow response to the stalking murder in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, saying it fell far short of public expectations. He ordered an internal probe of those responsible.
Lee Gyu-yeon, the Blue House’s chief public relations and communications officer, told reporters at a Blue House press briefing that the victim had contacted police six times before the crime, but authorities did not promptly execute an arrest warrant for the suspect.
Lee said the president mourned the victim and expressed deep regret to the bereaved family. He ordered that those responsible be investigated and that strict measures be taken.
The chief described the case as evidence of shortcomings in the country’s efforts to prevent stalking. He said the president has instructed officials to move quickly to separate perpetrators from victims, improve rapid location tracking of suspects, integrate electronic ankle monitors with smartwatches, and take other steps so victims of stalking and dating violence receive careful, prompt protection.
Earlier, on March 14 in Onam-eup, Namyangju, a man in his 40s identified only as A—who was wearing an electronic tracking device (ankle monitor)—fatally stabbed a woman in her 20s whom he had been stalking on a public street in broad daylight. The victim was under police protection and used the smartwatch issued by police to report the attack moments before it occurred; nevertheless, authorities failed to prevent the killing, prompting criticism of their response.
