Calm before the storm: The Chuseok holiday in South Korea is a time for family, but it is also a time when domestic violence reports and divorce rates quietly rise. — AP
AS the country enters one of its longest Chuseok holidays in recent years – lasting seven days thanks to adjacent public holidays – concerns are growing that family-related violent crimes could spike during the period.
Police statistics show that violent incidents, particularly those occurring within families or intimate relationships, tend to rise during traditional holidays when relatives gather for extended periods.
According to police data, domestic violence reports rose 62.3% and dating violence 30.5% during 2024’s holiday compared to non-holiday periods.
Police said more than 4,000 such cases are typically recorded nationwide during Chuseok and that the longer the holiday, the more cases are reported.
Song Ran-hee, representative of the Korea Women’s Hot Line, said that entrenched patriarchal customs also heighten tensions during the holiday.
“Family rituals such as ancestral rites remain male-centric in many households, with women shouldering most of the preparations. Even trivial criticisms over food or ingredients can trigger disputes,” she noted.
“In some homes, men and women still eat at separate tables, with men served comfortably while women eat in the kitchen.
“Such gender roles can spark conflict, and the holiday atmosphere sometimes widens the scope of what is tolerated for men,” she said, adding that it is not unusual for divorce consultations to rise once the holiday ends.
Song noted, however, that the statistics reflect 112 emergency calls, which may come either from victims themselves or from bystanders. As victims themselves usually find it hard to report on their own, the increase may partly be due to holidays bringing problems to the surface.
“The rate of women who experience domestic violence in Korea and directly seek police help hovers around 0.8, which is less than one percent. So, the increase of reports in the figures may not always be meaningful in themselves,” she said.
Still, Song emphasised that the holidays often creates conditions for violence to the surface.
“During Chuseok, people spend longer hours together, which increases points of conflict. Violence may occur not only between husbands and wives but also against children.
“In some cases, children who visit their parents during the holiday end up calling the police when their mother had previously stayed silent,” she said.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s Women’s Human Rights Institute of Korea also announced it will maintain full operations during Chuseok to support victims of digital sex crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.
The institute said its 24-hour hotline, 1366, will continue to provide counseling and connect victims with legal, medical and shelter services.
Support is also available through multiple channels, including phone, online chat, KakaoTalk and web-based counselling platforms, to ensure victims can access help in the way most convenient to them.
“In long holiday periods, the risk of gender-based violence tends to rise, so we will make sure there are no gaps in support,” said Shin Bo-ra, president of the institute.
“Victims should know they can reach out anytime, anywhere. And if they are harmed or feel threatened, they should not hesitate to call 1366 immediately.” — The Korea Herald/ANN
