South Korea is developing a new real-time anti-stalking GPS app that will allow victims to track offenders on a live map the moment they enter a defined proximity — shifting safety from reaction to prevention. The system, built under revised electronic monitoring laws, marks a step-change in how authorities respond to harassment cases, with nationwide deployment planned for 2025. The WP Times reports the proposal, citing BBC coverage of the Justice Ministry announcement and official crime data.
The current system sends only proximity SMS alerts, meaning victims know a stalker is nearby but have no direction, distance or escape guidance. The revised platform — combined with mandatory GPS ankle trackers already issued to high-risk offenders — will display movement, route and street-level positioning directly on a victim’s smartphone.
South Korea’s Justice Ministry said the upgrade is being designed for integration with the national 112 emergency hotline, enabling police to access the same live location data as victims. Authorities say this could accelerate response times during active pursuit cases and reduce the likelihood of contact or ambush.
Rising urgency behind the technology
Concerns about stalking escalated after several high-profile cases, including the 2022 Seoul subway murder, where a woman was killed by a former colleague who had stalked her for years despite multiple police warnings. This triggered public criticism of risk assessment standards and pushed lawmakers to remove prosecutorial barriers.
Since legal reform in 2023, stalking reports have surged from 7,600 to over 13,000 cases per year, according to justice ministry statistics. Campaigners say the numbers reflect both rising crime and increased willingness to report harassment.
How the system will work in practice
Authorities confirmed three pillars of deployment:
| Function | Operational Purpose |
|---|---|
| Live GPS map for victims | Directional awareness + escape planning |
| Wearable trackers for offenders | Continuous remote monitoring |
| 112 linkage | Instant police dispatch trigger |
The ministry is also testing automatic escalation alerts for when an offender approaches within a pre-set radius, allowing intervention before physical contact.
Public debate and next milestones
Supporters call the platform a necessary tool for survival, while critics warn it highlights wider structural issues — including gender-based violence, illegal camera crime and online misogynistic harassment. Final integration testing is scheduled through 2025, after which rollout may begin region-by-region.
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