Exclusive: Classified as "Grade A Management Target" Yet Another Tragedy... Advised to "Be Careful"?

[Anchor]

However, it was confirmed through our reporting that the victim was a high-risk group for relationship-based crimes managed by the police, a so-called "Grade A management target." Despite classifying her as a high-risk group and managing her, the horrific crime could not be prevented.

Continuing with the exclusive report by reporter Je Hui-won.

[Reporter]

As relationship-based crimes such as stalking continued, the Korean National Police Agency conducted a full-scale investigation into some 44,000 relationship-based crime cases from October 19 to 30.

The police stated that among all victims, they classified approximately 21,000 victims judged to be in more dangerous situations as Grade A and implemented protective measures.

However, SBS reporting confirmed that the murder victim, a woman in her 70s, was also a Grade A management target.

The police designated her as Grade A last June after she reported continuous stalking by the male murder suspect.

A "Grade A management target" is a relationship-based crime victim whom the police contact at least once a month to check on their safety. The police stated that the assigned police officer checked on this victim's safety much more frequently than standard management criteria.

Regarding the tragedy that occurred just two weeks after the tracking device period for the perpetrator was lifted, the police explained that cases such as stalking and assault had already been forwarded to the prosecution, and that they had notified the woman last month that provisional measures were ending, while also advising her to be careful.

However, it turned out that consultations with the prosecution regarding additional protective measures were never carried out.

[Interview: Park Yoon-hee / Attorney (Former Prosecutor of the Women and Children Crime Investigation Division) : In cases like this, for high-risk groups, data evaluating the level of risk should be mandatorily submitted before the expiration period of (provisional measures). Extending (protective measures) is not a matter of 'let the victim request it' or 'let the prosecutor figure it out.']

While full-scale investigations are repeatedly conducted to prevent the recurrence of relationship-based crimes, another victim whom the public authority failed to protect has lost her life.

(Photo: Yonhap News / Video by Choi Dae-woong / Video Editing by Kim Jin-won / Design by Seo Hyun-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.