South Korean police consider electronic tags for domestic violence offenders

South Korea's National Police Agency was due to present proposals for stronger measures against domestic violence offenders at an interministerial crime meeting at the presidential office on October 15. The proposals include electronic location monitoring, easier applications to detain offenders and criminal punishment for violations of emergency temporary measures. Newsis quoted a police official saying concrete decisions on implementation were expected after the meeting. [ 1 , 2 ]

Under the current domestic violence framework, police seeking detention during an investigation must establish that an offender has breached existing temporary measures, such as an exclusion or no-approach order, and that violence may recur. Police are considering applications based on recurrence risk without requiring an earlier breach, as in stalking cases. They are also reviewing legal changes allowing electronic monitoring for domestic violence offenders; Newsis reported that related legislation was already pending in the National Assembly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

Emergency temporary measures are police orders used when violence may recur and the situation is too urgent to await a court decision. Violations currently carry an administrative fine of up to 3 million won in domestic violence cases, compared with up to one year in prison or a criminal fine of up to 10 million won for stalking emergency-order violations. Police are considering criminal penalties for domestic violence violations too. Newsis also reported discussions of stronger links with domestic violence counselling centres and temporary accommodation funding to separate offenders from the home rather than victims. The reports linked the review to recent violent crimes involving family members. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]