{
  "id": 17183318,
  "title": "Fearing stalkers and violent exes, Korean women are hiring their own bodyguards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/fearing-stalkers-and-violent-exes-korean-women-are-hiring-their-own",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T05:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20261030/fearing-stalkers-and-violent-exes-korean-women-are-hiring-their-own-bodyguards"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Korea, women are increasingly hiring their own personal bodyguards due to fears of stalking, assault, and threats from former partners or husbands, despite government measures like emergency smartwatches and restraining orders. The situation has reached a point where private security services are in high demand, but funding has fallen short of the growing need. A 29-year-old woman, referred to as A, hired a bodyguard for four days in October after learning that her ex-boyfriend, known as B, was set to be released from prison. B had a history of fraud offenses, including taking out loans under A's name. A's worries were confirmed when B arrived at her apartment complex on the second day of the security service. The bodyguard intervened, warning B to stay away and escorting him away. A expressed her fear, stating, \"When my ex-boyfriend showed up, I was so scared that I cried.\"",
  "summary": "After a series of women in Korea were killed after experiencing stalking, assault and threats from former partners or husbands, some potential victims are turning to private bodyguards to protect themselves. They are paying substantial sums out of pocket amid concerns that public protection measures, including emergency smartwatches and restraining orders, may not be enough to keep an attacker…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korean women hire bodyguards to protect against stalkers and violent exes.",
    "Private security services in high demand due to growing need.",
    "29-year-old woman A hires bodyguard after ex-boyfriend B released from prison."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The rising demand for private security signifies that existing government protections like restraining orders and smartwatches are failing to provide the immediate physical safety women require from violent offenders.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}