Digital sex crimes by intimate partners increase share of total, report finds

Offenses involving digital sex crimes by current or former partners are making up a growing portion of sexual violence in Korea, a new government report showed Tuesday, although the country is experiencing an overall decline in several forms of sexual violence. It also said victim-blaming and secondary victimization remain high. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released the results of its comprehensive 2025 survey on sexual violence based on a nationwide study conducted every three years under the Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act.

The 2025 survey was conducted with 10,151 men and women aged 19 to 64. Findings showed that lifetime victimization rates for several major offenses have fallen compared to the results of the 2022 survey. The lifetime prevalence of sexual violence involving means of communication — such as phones and online platforms — decreased from 9.

8 percent to 7.6 percent, while sexual harassment fell from 3.9 percent to 2.

4 percent and rape, including attempted rape, from 0.2 percent to 0.1 percent.

Behind the overall decline, however, th