The number of reported stalking cases rose 8.2 percent last year to 22,823, marking a record high level for the third consecutive year, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
Police issued warnings to stalkers in 3,171 cases, up 29.3 percent from 2013, and orders to stop stalking in 149 cases, up 44.7 percent.
The record total reflects "a rising number of people consulting police about stalking" amid growing concerns over the phenomenon, the NPA said.
Women accounted for 89.3 percent of the victims in 2014, while 51 percent of the stalkers were the victims' partners, the agency said.
The number of stalking cases referred to prosecutors grew 30.9 percent to an all-time high of 2,473, including five murder and nine attempted murder cases, 465 blackmail attempts and 309 house break-ins.
Among cases involving email sent to victims, a new category covered under a revision in 2013 to the 2000 anti-stalking law, 103 cases were referred to prosecutors, up from 43 the previous year. The police issued warnings to the senders in 413 cases.
The NPA also said the number of recorded domestic violence cases in 2014 increased 19.3 percent from the previous year to a record 59,072, including 6,992 cases referred to prosecutors, up 58.7 percent.