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| Photo: Screenshot from SBS’s Live Today |
[Sports Today reporter Yoon Hye-young] Actress Kwak Jin-young has come forward about her harrowing experience with persistent stalking.
In a recent appearance on SBS’s Live Today, Kwak revealed that relentless stalking forced her to step away from broadcasting and caused her significant distress.
Kwak, who gained popularity in the 1990s for her role in a drama, first disclosed her stalking ordeal on a broadcast four years ago. Despite obtaining a restraining order, the stalker persisted. When Kwak ignored his attempts at contact, he escalated to leaving approximately 1,000 threatening messages along with token deposits of 1 KRW (about 0.00075 USD) in her bank account.
“All I want is to live a normal life,” Kwak expressed. “The kind of life everyone dreams of. I just want to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night without fear.”
The stalker was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2021 for various offenses, including trespassing. However, upon his release, the stalking resumed almost immediately.
“I felt a sense of relief while he was incarcerated,” Kwak admitted. “But less than a week after his release, he showed up at my residence. He bombarded me with messages so densely written they were barely legible.”
Even after changing her phone number, Kwak continued to receive threatening texts. Over a two-month period, she received 132 messages containing a mix of falsehoods and threats, leaving her in a state of constant fear.
“I requested another restraining order and started wearing a smartwatch for personal protection,” Kwak said. “The authorities even fitted him with an electronic ankle monitor. But then he started leaving comments on every show I appeared in. It’s absolutely terrifying.”
While the ankle monitor initially kept him at bay for three months, he adapted his tactics once it was removed. He began posting malicious comments on videos of Kwak’s appearances, ultimately forcing her to withdraw from broadcasting work.
The stalker’s actions extended beyond direct harassment. He altered his social media profiles to include sexual content, photos, and threats. He even filed complaints against the restaurant business run by Kwak and her family, expanding the scope of his harmful behavior.
“My blood runs cold, my hands shake, and I’m constantly anxious,” Kwak shared. “My life has become a shadow of what it once was.”
When questioned about his motives, the alleged stalker insisted, “We were in a relationship. Kwak should apologize for calling me a stalker. If she apologizes, I’ll forgive everything.”
Kwak vehemently denied these claims: “I was never his girlfriend. I never even held his hand, yet he speaks as if we were involved. I took legal action against his false claims and won both civil and criminal cases. Still, he continued to portray me as unstable. He initially contacted me through my younger sister, who informed me he was married with grandchildren.”
The suspect maintains that his actions do not constitute stalking. He is currently on trial for violating the Stalking Punishment Act.
Professor Yeom Geon-woong from Yuwon University’s Department of Police and Fire Administration emphasized, “Many still fail to recognize stalking as a serious crime. Punishments remain inadequate. We need strict, immediate responses to stalking incidents and severe consequences even for first-time offenders to create a deterrent environment.”
Despite the Stalking Punishment Act’s implementation in October 2021, most sentences have resulted in fines or suspended prison terms. Critics argue that these light penalties are insufficient to address the issue effectively.
Kwak’s attorney stated, “The temporary measures, such as the ankle monitor, were lifted due to a lack of continued offenses. Our requests for an arrest warrant were denied. However, stalking crimes are difficult to recover from and can escalate to more violent acts.”
He added, “The perpetrator repeatedly sent messages and posts designed to instill fear in the victim and posted defamatory content online multiple times. This case demands strong punitive action.”
Kwak expressed her ongoing fear: “I want the law to impose harsh punishment. I hope he stops tormenting me. I’m afraid he’ll harass me until I die – he might even come to my grave.”
[Sports Today reporter Yoon Hye-young ent@stoo.com]
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