“I’m Not Going to the Main Family Home,” Argument Turns Into Knife Attack... Domestic Violence Rears Its Head During Holidays

[Financial News] Domestic violence reports have been found to increase during the Chuseok holiday, when families gather in one place. As the daily average number of domestic violence reports during the recent Chuseok holiday has risen, cases in which family disputes over the holiday escalated into actual violence have continued to occur. Police urged people not to dismiss domestic violence as a private family matter and to report it promptly when violence occurs.
According to police on the 25th, reports of domestic violence to the 112 emergency number increase significantly during the Chuseok holiday compared with ordinary periods. A total of 5,246 domestic violence reports were received over the five-day Chuseok holiday from Sept. 14 to 18, 2024, averaging 1,049 reports per day. That was 61.8% higher than the overall daily average of 648 domestic violence reports.
Domestic violence reports during the Chuseok holiday have also increased in recent years. In 2025, reports of domestic violence to the 112 emergency number during the holiday period rose 12.7% from the previous year. Reports of dating violence and child abuse also increased by 21% and 14%, respectively. By contrast, total 112 reports fell by 4.4% over the same period. A police official explained, "The actual scale may be larger than the statistics suggest if cases that were not reported through 112 are taken into account. Domestic violence victims often hesitate to report incidents or refrain from telling others because they view them as family matters."
There have also been cases in which family disputes during the Chuseok holiday led to violent incidents. During last year's Chuseok holiday, a man in his 60s in Nowon District, Seoul, got into an argument with his wife over not going to the extended family's main home and attacked her with a weapon. Their son, who tried to stop him, was also injured. After arresting the man, police separated the victims from him and imposed temporary measures, including eviction and a restraining order. In Dongdaemun District, a man in his 70s also attacked his son with a weapon after arguing with him over caring for his wife, who had dementia.
When a domestic violence report is received, police respond at the scene, stop the violence, and take emergency measures such as separating the victim from the aggressor. If there is a risk of recurrence or an urgent need for protection, they can implement protective measures, including emergency temporary measures. Even after a report has been filed, police continue to take safety measures for crime victims when their safety remains a concern, such as increasing patrols around their homes and connecting them with temporary accommodations or protective facilities. During the holiday period, police respond to domestic violence reports through these on-site measures and victim-protection efforts to address the possibility of repeat offenses.
The victims are also monitored. During last year's Chuseok holiday, police monitored all 21,199 victims of relationship-based crimes and selected 4,776 high-risk individuals for intensive management. During the holiday period, an average of 26,798 police personnel were deployed to public safety operations each day, while 4,294 locations vulnerable to crime and accidents were inspected in advance. A women's and juvenile affairs chief at a police station in Seoul said, "Domestic violence should not be regarded as a personal matter simply because it occurs between family members. Please report it promptly if you suffer violence or threats."
[email protected] Seo Ji-yoon Reporter