"To the Point of 'Safe Breakup'": Democratic Party to Launch Comprehensive Probe into Fatal Relationship Crimes, Devise Measures

The Democratic Party of Korea launched the "Special Committee for the Eradication of Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking" today (November 4) and began discussions on measures to prevent relationship crimes.

At the launch ceremony held at the National Assembly that day, Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok encouraged the committee's work, saying, "Stalking, dating violence, and family violence have gone beyond the realm of private conflict and have now become serious crimes."

Kim suggested, "The term 'safe breakup' has entered our daily lives, and ending a relationship with someone you dated has become something where one must risk threats." He added, "The situation with relationship crimes has reached a point where we must shift toward a preemptive prevention system. We need to strengthen the victim protection system and reinforce management and responses to perpetrators with a high risk of recidivism."

Representative Lee Su-jin, who serves as the committee's executive secretary and the ruling party's ranking member on the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, said, "The committee will conduct a comprehensive investigation into fatal cases of relationship crimes to analyze the root causes." She added, "We will also inspect whether victim protection measures, as well as the surveillance and management of perpetrators, are functioning effectively on the ground."

She continued, "To prevent further victims of relationship crimes such as dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, we will focus on strengthening preemptive prevention and protection measures," adding, "The Democratic Party, together with the government, will step forward to establish an integrated and comprehensive response system."

Representative Song Ok-joo, who co-chairs the special committee, promised, "Focusing on major fatal cases of crimes in intimate relationships, we will closely examine the entire response process from reporting to protective measures and investigation to identify areas in need of improvement."

Song said, "Around 100 amendment bills related to domestic violence and stalking have been proposed as primary sponsor, but most of them remain pending in the National Assembly." She added, "The special committee will follow through to the end so that pending bills and newly proposed bills are processed swiftly."

Former prosecutor Seo Ji-hyeon, who co-chairs the committee alongside Song, also handed over a draft bill amending laws on relationship crimes to Kim at the meeting.

Co-chair Seo emphasized the need for tangible legislative outcomes, saying, "I have seen too many cases where organizations like committees and special task forces are created when an issue erupts, but quietly disappear once public attention fades."

She continued, "Laws that protect crime victims and the vulnerable have been built one by one upon the lives, suffering, and tears of many people," adding, "It is already too late, and we can delay no longer."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.