November, 2013 Mijeong Lee, Ph.D. Korean Women's Development Institute

 “Violence against women and girls is one of the most systematic and widespread human rights violations. It is rooted in gendered social structure rather than individual and random act (UN General Assembly, 2006).  “VAW is any act of gender-based violence that results in or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women (General Assembly Resolution 48/104 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, 1993).  Violence against women should be understood in the context of human rights and women NGOS challenged traditional views on women and violence against women.

 Wife battering and child beating had been regarded as a way to discipline women and children by male household head in patriarchal society. A woman has been expected to be obedient to her father and her husband in traditional Confucian culture.  Sexual purity of a woman is strongly emphasized in patriarchal society. If she fails to keep it, her social reputation is severely damaged under Confucian rules.  Most women sexually assaulted has tended to keep it to themselves in patriarchal society, which consequently put them under the firm control of men.

 The notion of sexual purity is reflected in Criminal Code of Korea until 1995 where rape is defined as a criminal behavior violating sexual purity of women.  Sexually assaulted women have hard time to bring it out. These women are blamed for it and often their morality and behaviors are suspected. Under patriarchal traditions rooted in Confucianism, Korean society has been relatively tolerant of husband’s violence toward wife.  As in UK, the United States and Australia, the fight against violence on women was initiated by women’s groups in Korea.

 Korea Women’s Hot Line was formed and it started to provide counseling service for battered women in  Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center was formed in 1991, the first rape crisis center in Korea. They have challenged traditional views on sexual violence(Shin, 2007).  Women’s organizations regard domestic violence as an issue stemming from gender inequality within a patriarchal society  Women NGOs urged to define rape and wife battering as crimes severely restricting autonomy and liberty of women.

 Act on Punishing Sexual Violence Crimes and Protecting Victims was introduced in 1993 as the result of cooperative efforts of women NGOs.  Act on Punishing and Act on Preventing Domestic Violence were introduced in Law enforcement agencies could intervene domestic violence within households based on it.  Legal grounds were build to support counseling centers and shelters for the victims of VAW. Vigorous efforts of women NGOs to fight against VAW have resulted in institutionalization of helping the victims (Park, 2008).

 Establishment of these Acts is a historic event officially challenging patriarchal rule and authority in Korean society.  Awareness was raised that domestic violence is a crime and abusers can be punished. Acts on Domestic Violence function as a pressure to the abusers.  The Acts on VAW stipulate that central and local governments must take measures to prevent domestic violence and protect victims.  Surveys on domestic and sexual violence are required to be conducted every three years by government.

 Local and central governments are responsible for protecting and supporting the victims of VAW. Government budgets have been provided for NGOs running counseling centers and shelters. With the government budget, it becomes possible to secure stable resources and provide universal service for for the victims(Kim, 2000).  Centers and shelters for the victims have recently increased. As of 2012, there are 17 hotlines with emergency shelters, 405 counseling centers for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, 84 shelters, 26 shelters for migrant women, 7 hotlines for migrant women. Additionally, 31 one-stop crisis centers are established where all relevant services are co- located.

 Separate surveys on domestic and sexual violence are conducted every 3 years and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is in charge of.  Survey on domestic violence conducted in 2004, 2007, Gallup Korea Korea Institute of Health and Social Welfare Yonsei University  Survey on sexual violence was conducted in 2007, Korea Institute of Health and Social Welfare Yonsei University  In 2013, KWDI is conducting both surveys on domestic violence and sexual violence.

 2010 Domestic Violence Survey Ever-married women and men aged 19 to under 65 Total cases : 2,659/ Women 1,984/ Men 675  2010 Sexual Violence Survey Women and men aged 19 and over Total cases : 2,200/ Women 1,583/ Men 617

 200 sampling units are stratified in proportion to 16 metropolitan provinces, which are based on enumeration districts of 2005 Korea census.  19 households are selected per each sampling unit in DV survey and 11 households in SV survey.  Two interviewers as a team visit each household and interview the household member whose birthday is the earliest in the year. Questionnaire is completed either by interviewer or respondent.

 2010 Domestic Violence Survey Perception on gender role and violence Experience of being abused during childhood Awareness of act, policy and related services on DV Detailed actions of physical, emotional, economic, sexual violence/ first occurrence/ frequency Emotional and physical injuries from DV Response to domestic violence Personal and demographic information

 2010 Sexual Violence Survey Perception on sexuality and sexual violence Awareness of act, policy and related services on SV Questions on sexual molestation, attempted rape, rape, sexual harassment, stalking/ ever occurred/ frequency/ number of predators/ first occurrence/ occurrence during the last year/ relationship with predator Emotional and physical injuries from SV Response to sexual violence Personal and demographic information

Demographic Characteristics of Respondents (Unit: Person. %) Classification%Cases Sex Male Female1, Age Aged Aged , Aged Marital Status Married2, Widowed903.4 Divorced/separated No response311.1 Education High school and less1, Junior college and over1, No response Total2, Source: Kim, et al. (2010), 「2010 Domestic Violence Survey of Korea」, p. 90, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

% Number estimated Female respondentsMale respondents % Number estimated % Occurrence rate of spousal abuse 1) ,047, ,769, ,731,423 Occurrence rate of spousal abuse 2) ,134, ,029, ,175,979 Types of abuse Physical abuse Light abuse ,745, ,986, ,813 Serious abuse , , ,708 (light + serious) abuse ,819, ,082, ,441 Emotional abuse 42.89,813, ,568, ,289,133 Economic abuse 10.12,304, ,028, ,269 Sexual abuse 10.42,382, ,262, ,063 Neglect 30.56,994, ,179, ,724,778 Controlment ,183, ,285, ,497,614 Source: Kim, et al. (2010), 「2010 Domestic Violence Survey of Korea」, p. 104, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Note: 1) Including physical, emotional, economic, sexual, abuse, neglect and controlment 2) Not including controlment Incidence Rate of Spousal Abuse during the last year (Unit: %, Person)

Occurrence rate of spousal abuse Physical abuse Emotional abuse Economic abuse Sexual abuse NeglectCases Light abuse Serious abuse (light + serious) abuse (2,423) (6,561) (5,916) Incidence Rate of Spousal Abuse during the Last Year (Unit: %. Person) Source: Kim, et al. (2010), 「2010 Domestic Violence Survey of Korea」, p. 105, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Note: Physical, emotional, economic, sexual abuse and neglect are included in 2007 and In 2004, economic abuse and neglect are not included.

Physical abuse Cases Light abuseSerious abuse (light + serious) abuse Age Aged (293) Aged (1,040) Aged (651) Education High school and less (1,154) Junior college and over (734) Income Less than 2 mil won (613) 2 mil to under 4 mil won (912) 4 mil won and over (423) Employment status Employed (797) Unemployed (1,174) Incidence Rate of Spousal Abuse during the Last Year by Wives’ Characteristics (Unit: %, Person) Source: Kim et al. (2010), 「2010 Domestic Violence Survey of Korea」, p. 114, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Note: Percentage based on weighted analysis

Demographic characteristics of Respondents (Unit: %, Person) Source: Kim, et al. (2010), 「2010 Sexual Violence Survey of Korea」, p.122, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. ClassificationCases% Sex Male Female1, Total2, Age Aged Aged Aged and over No response10.0 Total2, Education Middle school and under High school Junior college College and over No response Total2,

Incidence Rate of Sexual Violence during the Last Year (Unit: %, Person) Source: Kim et al. (2010), 「 2010 Sexual Violence Survey of Korea 」, p.143, Ministry of Gender Equality% and Family. Note: 1) Percentage based on weighted analysis 2) Number of cases from survey is in parentheses. 3) ( a ⋃ b ⋃ c ⋃ d) indicates those with at least one of a or b or c or d. Sexual Violence with body contact Sexual Harassm ent Obscene Phone call Genital Exposure Stalking (Cases) Less serious Molestation Serious Molestation Attempted rape RapeTotal (a)(b)(c)(d) (a ⋃ b ⋃ c ⋃ d) Total % (Cases) (55)(34)(7)(3)(78)(37)(673)(47)(15)(2,200) Female % (Cases) (49)(32)(7)(2)(71)(35)(425)(42)(13)(1,583) Male % (Cases) (6)(2)-(1)(7)(2)(248)(5)(2)(617)

Comparing Survey and Criminal Statistics (Unit: Person) Source: Kim et al. (2010), 「 2010 Sexual Violence Survey of Korea 」, p.145, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Note: 1) Estimated persons are based on weighted analysis by sex and region. 2) Number of cases from survey is in parentheses. Total number of cases are 2,200. 3) Rate per 100,000 = Estimated persons/Total pop×100,000. Total pop is 33,965,852. 4) ( a ⋃ b ⋃ c ⋃ d) indicates those with at least one of a or b or c or d. Type 2010 Sexual Violence Survey) 2010 Criminal Statistics Less Serious Molestation Serious Molestation Attempted Rape RapeTotal (a)(b)(c)(d) (a ⋃ b ⋃ c ⋃ d) (Cases)(55)(34)(7)(3)(78) 16,156 Estimated Persons708,864392,94974,62750,952980,694 Rate per 100,

Lifetime Prevalence Rate of Sexual Violence among Women Source: Kim et al. (2010), 「 2010 Sexual Violence Survey of Korea 」, p.146, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Note: 1) Percentage based on weighted analysis 2) Number of cases from survey is in parenthesis Sexual Violence with body contact Sexual Harassment Obscene Phone call Genital Exposure Stalking (Cases) Less Serious Molestation Serious Molestation Attempted Rape Rape Total (a)(b)(c)(d) (a ⋃ b ⋃ c ⋃ d) Female (Cases)(437)(109)(53)(20)(464)(249)(826)(536)(101)(1,583) (Unit: %, Persons)

Incidence Rate by Women’s Characteristics during the Last Year Source: Kim et al. (2010), 「 2010 Sexual Violence Survey of Korea 」, p.148, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Note: 1) Percentage based on weighted analysis 2) Number of cases from survey is in parentheses. (Unit: %, Person) Type% Sexual Violence with body contact Sexual Harassment Obscene Phone call Genital Exposure Stalking (Cases) Less Serious Molestation Serious Molestation Attempted Rape RapeTotal (a)(b)(c)(d) (a ⋃ b ⋃ c ⋃ d) Age(1,582) Aged (378) Aged (632) Aged (361) 65 and over (211) Education(1,473) High school and less (867) Junior college and over (606)