A woman in her 40s who was killed by a man previously reported for stalking had also told police in March that she was a victim of sexual assault and had been threatened with the distribution of illegally filmed footage, authorities confirmed.
According to Jeju police on the 13th, the suspect, a man in his 60s identified as A, was reported to police on March 5 by the victim, identified as B, over a sexual assault complaint. At the time, B told police that A had threatened to distribute a video of sexual intercourse.
But the case was closed for insufficient evidence after B failed to appear for questioning as a victim and did not cooperate with the investigation.
B had also reported A for stalking in October last year, but police did not formally register the complaint. Police explained at the time that the victim did not fully cooperate with questioning and said she did not want the suspect punished. Under the anti-stalking law, a provision barring prosecution against the victim's wishes has been abolished, meaning police must handle a case once a report is filed even if the victim does not want punishment. Yet police did not impose provisional measures such as a restraining order against A.
Only on the 16th of last month — after warning signs continued to emerge, including a dating violence report filed in May — did police issue B a smartwatch and register her as a subject of safety management under the 112 emergency call system.
A is accused of stabbing B to death with a knife on a street in front of a hotel in Yeon-dong, Jeju City, at about 1:38 a.m. on the 13th.
B died without being able to use the smartwatch she was wearing to call for help. Police believe the attack was so sudden — with A grabbing her, dragging her away by force and assaulting her — that she was unable to activate the device.