"I want to report it, but I don't know where to start."
Experiencing stalking in a country that is not your own is distressing enough. When you add a language barrier and unfamiliar procedures, many people hesitate to report — and the harm continues while they wait.
Foreign residents in Korea are protected by the Stalking Punishment Act regardless of visa status. You can report even if you don't speak Korean. And if the process feels overwhelming, a professional can handle everything on your behalf from the very start.
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Stalking Victim Response for Foreign Residents — Key Facts
All foreign residents in Korea are protected by the Stalking Punishment Act, regardless of visa status
Evidence first — it can be deleted or disappear over time
Report to the nearest police station (Women and Juveniles Unit) or call 112
Emergency protection measures — no-contact and no-approach orders — can be issued immediately upon filing
Since the 2023 amendment, prosecution can proceed even if the victim agrees to settle
A professional can handle the entire process on your behalf — you don't have to face the perpetrator directly
1. Foreign Residents Are Protected Under Korean Law
The Stalking Punishment Act protects everyone in Korea — regardless of visa type, length of stay, or nationality. Since the July 2023 amendment, stalking is no longer an offense requiring a victim's complaint to prosecute. Even if a victim agrees to settle or withdraws their complaint, the investigation and trial can continue.
What this means for you:
You are not obligated to respond to the perpetrator's requests for a settlement
A settlement does not prevent prosecution — there is no basis to yield to settlement pressure
If the perpetrator says "we settled, so I won't be punished" — that is not true
2. Preserve Evidence — Do This Right Now ⭐️
Evidence is the most important factor in a stalking report. Some things can be deleted or disappear over time — save everything now.
1) Online stalking evidence
Screenshots of all messages and DMs (include account name, date, and time)
Screenshots of follow requests
A record showing the sequence of blocks and new approach attempts
A list of all accounts that have contacted you
2) Offline stalking evidence
A log of where and when the perpetrator appeared
Contact information of any witnesses
Request preservation of CCTV footage from the relevant police station or establishment
Keep any letters, gifts, or objects received from the perpetrator
Don't delete anything — even messages or photos that feel distressing. Back everything up to cloud storage or a separate device.
3. What Protection Can You Get After Reporting?
1) How to report
Immediate danger → Call 112
Full statement and complaint → Nearest police station, Women and Juveniles Unit
Online stalking → Korean National Police Agency Cyber Crime Reporting System
You can report even if you don't speak Korean. You can request interpreter assistance at the police station (multilingual support line: 1588-4121). If the entire process feels overwhelming, K-Foreigner Legal Center can manage it on your behalf — a bilingual attorney communicates directly in your language and manages every step accurately and safely.
2) Protection measures available after reporting
Upon receiving a stalking report, police can immediately take the following emergency measures:
Stopping and separating the stalking behavior
Prohibiting contact via telecommunications
Transfer to a victim protection facility
Through court provisional measures, the following can also be ordered: a prohibition on approaching within 100 metres of the victim's home or workplace, a ban on all forms of contact, and detention in a police cell or detention center. If personal safety protection is needed, provision of a personal safety smartwatch and enhanced police patrol may also be requested.
Whether the perpetrator is Korean or foreign, they can be prosecuted.
Reporting stalking takes courage. For foreign victims, the language barrier and unfamiliar procedures make that even harder. The longer you delay reporting, the greater the harm is likely to become. Korean law protects foreign victims too. Secure your evidence now — and don't try to handle this alone. K-Foreigner Legal Center can handle all the communication on your behalf.
K-Foreigner Legal Center at Sugar Square Law & Advisors communicates directly in your language — from confirming what evidence to preserve, to accompanying you through the reporting process, to preparing your statement. We create a structure where you don't have to receive the perpetrator's calls, threatening messages, or settlement demands directly. Legal support and psychological specialist referrals are available together.
If the process feels complicated and you're hesitating because of it — come to K-Foreigner Legal Center. We work to ensure that being a foreign resident does not become a disadvantage. We're here to help.
FAQ
Q. Can foreign residents report stalking in Korea? A. Yes. Foreign residents in Korea are protected by the Stalking Punishment Act regardless of visa status or length of stay.
Q. Can I report if I don't speak Korean? A. Yes. You can request interpreter assistance at the police station. Working with a bilingual representative such as K-Foreigner Legal Center means your statement is delivered accurately without any language barrier.
Q. Can I report even if I don't have evidence? A. Yes. You can report without evidence. That said, having evidence leads to stronger protection measures and more certain prosecution. Gather as much as you can before filing.
Q. Can I report online stalking? A. Yes. Repeated DMs, creating new accounts after being blocked, and repeated follow requests all fall under the Stalking Punishment Act. Screenshots and account information serve as evidence.
Q. What if the stalker is also a foreign national? A. It doesn't matter. The Stalking Punishment Act applies to everyone in Korea regardless of nationality — the perpetrator can be prosecuted whether they are Korean or foreign.
![[EN] Stalking Victim in Korea? Here's What Foreign Residents Need to Do Right Now](https://image.inblog.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsource.inblog.dev%2Ffeatured_image%2F2026-06-16T06%3A08%3A33.917Z-7d55ac53-ca8a-493c-b4d8-75e2eb642dbf&w=3840&q=75)
