The proportion of people in South Korea who experienced violence from a spouse or partner fell to 5.9% in a recent government survey [1].
This decline suggests a potential shift in domestic dynamics, yet the high rate of victims who do not seek help indicates significant barriers to reporting and legal protection.
The survey was conducted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and covered a 12-month period in 2023 [1]. The 5.9% figure represents a 1.7-percentage-point drop compared to the 2022 survey [1].
Despite the overall decrease, the data reveals a persistent trend of silence. Approximately 68% of victims reported taking no action against the violence [1]. This non-response rate has increased by 15.2 percentage points compared to data from three years earlier [1].
Government findings said that victims often refrain from responding due to pride, shame, or the belief that the incident will pass [1].
The survey also highlighted specific risks for those in unstable relationships. Half of the individuals who were separated reported experiencing violence [1]. Within this group, there was a gender gap of 19.6 percentage points, with women reporting higher rates of violence than men [1].
“68% of victims reported taking no action against the violence”
While the decrease in reported partner violence may appear positive, the sharp rise in victims who take no action suggests a growing gap between the occurrence of abuse and the willingness to seek institutional help. The high prevalence of violence among separated individuals indicates that the period of relationship dissolution remains a high-risk window for domestic abuse in South Korea.
