The Silent Crisis: 1 in 5 Korean Women Faces Intimate Partner Violence
As the world marks the International Week for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 2025, a chilling report from the Korea Women’s Development Institute has left many in shock, highlighting an issue that has remained largely invisible due to lack of data and systemic support. A staggering one in five women in Korea has suffered from violence in intimate relationships, a finding that demands immediate action and awareness.
Unveiling the Harsh Reality
Survey data spanning 2021 to 2024 expose a disturbing trend: 19.2% of Korean women have faced some form of intimate partner violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse. The rise from previous years signals an urgent need for reform, yet systemic blind spots persist.
Alarming Cases That Mirrors a Wider Issue
Recent high-profile cases have painted a vivid picture of the systemic failures. In Bupyeong-gu and Uijeongbu, tragic incidents of women being murdered despite legal and protective measures have highlighted the insufficiency of current systems. In the Dongtan district, a woman was kidnapped and murdered even after repeated police intervention, underscoring the urgent need for change.
The Statistical Abyss: Hidden Crimes
The absence of comprehensive national data makes intimate-partner violence one of Korea’s most insidious hidden crimes. The Korea Women’s Development Institute has emphasized that without clear statistical frameworks, preventive and protective measures will remain inadequate. As stated in The Korea Herald, the establishment of a detailed national data system is critical to unveiling the full scale of this crisis.
Legal Reform and Statistical Systems: A Call to Action
Kim Hyo-jung, associate research fellow at KWDI, calls for integrated data and legal reforms. “Victims remain statistically invisible, and the data we do have only scrapes the surface,” she explains. President Kim Jong-suk of KWDI stresses that new laws and data systems are essential in addressing this pervasive issue.
Steps Toward Change
The road ahead requires committed legal reforms and integrated data production, aiming to monitor and combat intimate partner violence effectively. This crisis demands a national conversation and bold actions to protect the vulnerable, providing them the safety and support they desperately need.
Let us work towards a future where no woman in Korea feels endangered in her own home, with comprehensive support systems that stand ready to protect and empower.
