A murder of a mother and daughter by a man in his 60s in Gangnam on May 30 occurred less than a month after a 26-year-old medical student fatally stabbed his girlfriend near Gangnam Station on April 6. Crime experts have observed that “dating violence is now leading to ‘relationship murders,’” noting an increase in the frequency of such crimes and the brutality of methods. In March, in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Kim Le-ah, 26, fatally attacked his girlfriend and severely injured the girlfriend’s mother with a weapon.
According to the Korean National Police Agency statistics, the number of dating violence suspects has been increasing annually, rising from 8,951 in 2020 to 13,939 in 2023. This trend is not limited to younger age groups. Data from the Police Science Institute at the National Police University shows that as of September 2022, the highest number of dating violence suspects was in their 20s, with 3,631 cases (36.8%), followed by those in their 30s with 2,526 cases (25.6%), and individuals in their 40s and 50s with 1,768 (17.9%) and 1,207 cases (12.2%) respectively. Even individuals in their 60s accounted for 404 cases (4.1%).
Professor Kim Sang-gyun from Baekseok University’s Police Science Division said, “These days, there is a more assertive expression of intentions like ‘let’s break up’ or ‘let’s stop seeing each other’ among couples compared to the past,” adding, “Those who cannot accept this are seen to engage in dating violence and relationship murders.” Kim pointed out that dating violence and relationship murders are widespread crimes that affect individuals across various age groups, including youth, middle-aged, and elderly. He emphasized the need to strengthen legal penalties for offenses such as dating violence. There are suggestions for improving the practice of the police, who often dismiss conflicts between two adults as private matters. Women’s groups also advocate for gender equality education from an early age, teaching individuals to respect each other’s wishes rationally.
This article was originally published on May 31, 2024.
