When a college student brutally murdered his girlfriend on a building rooftop in southern Seoul in 2024, the case made national headlines, unveiling the harrowing details of intimate partner violence (IPV).

Although the tragedy sparked discussions about creating safer spaces for women, concrete policy reforms or effective programs failed to materialize. Disappointingly, as media coverage dwindled over time, so did public interest, allowing the issue to slip from the government’s agenda.

Broadly, IPV refers to harmful or assaultive behavior within romantic or intimate relationships, including cohabitation, marriages and both serious and casual dating. It manifests in various forms, such as physical violence, sexual coercion or assault, psychological and emotional abuse and controlling behaviors, often committed by current or former spouses or partners. While this article does not deny or dismiss the significance of male victims of IPV, IPV remains a profoundly gendered issue, with women disproportionately bearing its brunt.

According to Korea Women’s Hot-Line, 70 women were murdered in 2009 by their current or former male partners, with seven cases of attempted murder. By 2023, fatalities nearly doubled to 138, while attempted murders reached 311. These statistics translate into one woman facing a threat or being killed every 19 hours.........

© The Korea Times