How much do you know about stalking? Stalking is a serious crime but it is regarded as love by the stalker. A person who repeatedly follows a specific person who doesn't want to be followed is called a stalker. Nowadays, as you know, there are lots of problems caused by stalkers. The most significant problem is that there are no powerful laws to protect the victims in Korea. You should know clearly about what stalking is and now, I want to tell you about stalking.
　　　 The most well known stalking type is people who follow entertainers. They tell their victims, "I love you so much. You must accept my love." But, it's not a fact but a serious mental disease. Maybe you've seen the Hollywood movie, Misery. It's a representative example of this type of stalker. The heroin wants to hold her idol, a famous novelist, at her side. Her eyes look like a mad person's, and she acts like a mad person. Therefore, she breaks his leg with a hammer, and at the end of the movie, she wants to kill him to hold him at her side eternally. Think about the situation. It's terrible.
　　　 There are lots of stalking affairs involving entertainers in Korea, too. For example, one of the most famous actresses, Choi Jin-sil, has been followed by many stalkers. She has feared for her safety, so she has changed her phone number and cellular phone number many times, and even has been protected by bodyguards. Besides her case, there are lots of stalking cases involving other entertainers in Korea.
　　　 Secondly, there are many examples of stalking in our general lives. The stalkers continuously follow ordinary people who don't have any special appearance or character. Though they say, "I love you," it's not a true love. They have the same reason as the stalkers who follow the entertainers. It's a mental disease, too. The reason that the stalkers follow ordinary people is often that they have had unhappy relationships with them. They repeatedly follow the victims, appear at the victim's homes, or engage in threatening conduct. If the victim fears for his or hersafety, it's not a normal love anymore. This is mental andphysical violence. Imagine yourself in that situation. Howhorrible that would be!
　　　 The state of New Hampshire in the United States passed a stalking law in July 1993. If a stalker causes fear to a victim, the victim can call the police, and the police can arrest the stalker. The victim should keep all mail, gifts, and phone messages for evidence to be turned over to the police. I think that there are more incidents of stalking in America than in Korea. Furthermore, stalking is recognized as a more serious crime in America than in Korea. We should change our minds. Stalking is a serious social problem and we should protect the victims with powerful laws.
　　　 As I mentioned above, the most important problem is that there are no powerful laws to protect the victims in Korea. Though the victim calls the police and the police arrest the offender, the offender is usually released soon.
　　　 Remember this: Stalking is a crime and a mental disease. Stalking is clearly a serious social crime and we should recognize it as a crime. The Korean National Assembly should pass powerful laws, and we should show more concern for the victims of stalking.