Women's groups demand Lee Chae-won case be classified as 'gender-based violence'

Thirty-five women's and human rights groups in the South Jeolla region have called for the case of the late Lee Chae-won to be classified as 'gender-based violence' and demanded institutional improvements. In a statement released on the 5th, the groups pointed out that the perpetrator's crimes followed a series of violent acts, including illegal filming at a local children's center, stalking and sexual assault of a migrant woman coworker, and the murder of a high school girl on her way home.

They criticized the investigative agencies' classification of the case as a 'random crime,' arguing that the repeated violent process experienced by the female victim was overlooked. Accordingly, they called for the establishment of an investigative system for repeat offenses against women, strengthened intervention at the illegal filming and stalking stages, and the construction of a safety net for women.

Furthermore, they highlighted that the act of sharing the victim's personal information, photos, and sensational descriptions online constitutes secondary victimization, causing further pain to the bereaved family.