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SEOUL, Jul. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — Going forward, if someone abuses his or her date on three separate occasions, the assailant will be brought to court even if he or she had come to an agreement with victims in the two previous instances.
Prosecutors have decided to take dating violence seriously by arresting assailants for investigation as they implement a “three strikes” policy.
The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office revealed this week that the new measure is effective starting this month.
Legal experts say that prosecutors have come up with the new measure to crack down on dating violence, which has seen a surge in frequency, and has become a hot-button social issue.
According to the National Police Agency, the number of incidences of violence that occurred during dates surged from 6,675 cases in 2014 to 10,303 cases last year.
The new “three strikes” policy is a hardline approach to the problem, giving authorities power to indict individuals who have acted violently with the same date on two previous occasions.
Previously, aggressors in dating violence cases were not punished if they came to terms with their victims. Prosecutors have also set out to put in place a better system to support victims.
Psychological counselling will be provided to victims in addition to legal and economic support. Other measures will be implemented to ensure that victims are not subjected to retaliation by assailants.
An official at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said that prosecutors will do their best to protect victims and crack down on violent offenders.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
