The Justice Ministry and the National Police Agency are set to jointly respond to prevent incidents like the recent stalking murder case involving Kim Hoon, who is accused of stalking and fatally attacking his ex-partner while wearing an electronic monitoring device.
On July 6, the two agencies will implement a new cooperation response plan for high-risk individuals. This initiative aims to enhance safety measures for victims of stalking and domestic violence.
Under the new plan, information will be shared when individuals wearing electronic monitoring devices due to specific crimes receive court-issued restraining orders against victims. In cases where victim protection is necessary, probation officers and police will respond together.
When a perpetrator approaches a victim, the probation officer will monitor the offender while the police will ensure the victim's safety. If a restraining order is violated, both agencies will collaborate to apprehend the offender, prioritizing the victim's safety.
Since the enforcement of the Stalking Punishment Act and the Electronic Monitoring Act on January 12, 2024, information on individuals under temporary electronic monitoring has been shared. However, there was previously no system for sharing information or coordinating responses when these individuals received restraining orders for stalking or domestic violence.
This gap in the system led to the tragic stalking murder case in Namyangju in March, where Kim Hoon, who was wearing an electronic monitoring device due to a sexual offense, approached and killed his victim despite having a restraining order against him.
On March 14, at approximately 8:58 a.m., Kim Hoon allegedly killed his former partner, identified as A, with a knife he had prepared in advance. He had previously been convicted of sexual offenses in 2009 and 2013 and was required to wear an electronic monitoring device upon his release.
The Uijeongbu District Prosecutor's Office in Namyangju charged Kim Hoon on April 8 with six offenses, including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (retaliatory murder) and violation of the Electronic Monitoring Act.
To ensure rapid sharing of information regarding individuals under electronic monitoring who receive restraining orders for stalking or domestic violence, the Justice Ministry and the National Police Agency completed a system connection on June 23 and agreed to respond jointly as soon as access attempts are made.
In preparation for the implementation of the high-risk cooperation response plan, both agencies conducted field training and nationwide joint simulations from June 22 to July 3 to enhance operational understanding and establish a robust collaboration framework.
Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho stated, "Both agencies have worked together to break down information barriers and establish a framework that can provide much stronger protection for victims of stalking and domestic violence. We will continue to fill institutional gaps and focus all available resources to ensure that citizens can enjoy a safe and peaceful daily life free from crime."
Acting Police Chief Yoo Jae-sung emphasized, "Learning from the Namyangju murder case, we have established a response system that focuses on current and future risk indicators rather than past crimes. Through close information cooperation with the Justice Ministry, we will create a practical safety net that allows victims to feel secure from relational crime threats by thoroughly isolating offenders from the outset."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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