Korea Women's Hot-Line
Supporting survivors and promoting gender equality
According to a survey conducted by the ministry of gender equality and family in 2019, at least 18% of women aged over 19 experience sexual assault more than once their lives, 27% of women suffer from domestic violence, and 62% of women over the age of 18 have been assaulted by their partners while dating including physical, emotional, sexual, economic violence.
This is also reflected in a statistic called 'Gauge of Fury' published by the Korea Women's Hot-Line (KWHL). In the absence of national statistics on intimate partner violence, Korea Women's Hot-Line counts the number of cases of women killed or at risk of being killed by men in intimate relationships reported in the media each year. According to the report, in 2023, at least one woman is killed or at risk of being killed by an intimate male partner, every 19 hours, or at least one every 15 hours when bystander victims are included.
Korea Women’s Hot-Line was created in 1983 to protect and support women survivors of violence and promote gender equality in Korea. Over its 40+ years of operation, the organization has helped thousands of women to escape violence and rebuild their lives. Korea Women’s Hot-Line coordinates and promotes activities aimed at shifting cultural and societies attitudes about gender-based violence in the country, with a focus on domestic violence, sexual violence, and violence against women migrants.
The organization founded the first center for women survivors of domestic violence in Korea, in 1987 alongside O RAE DDLE. The nonprofit organization provides a full range of services for survivors, including emergency shelter, as well as medical and legal aid, and professional counseling.
In 2017, KWHL supported 200 survivors of domestic violence by hosting the 2-day “By your side” workshop. Over 48 hours, women survivors participated in sessions focused on solidarity, regaining confidence and recovery.
In additional to essential services to survivors, the KWHL focuses on raising awareness on gender-based violence. In 2023, they launched the Festival For Feminists (Festival KICK) which brought together 2,000 visitors to create a safe space for women around talks and panel discussions to share their experiences.
Their Film Festival for Women’s Rights (FIWOM) highlights the reality of gender-based violence and its consequences, through film competition and talks, gathering 4,000 participants every year since 2006.
In Korea, according to national statistics, only 1% of victims report domestic violence and only 10% of perpetrators of domestic violence are pursued. Korea Women’s Hot-Line work is essential to providing the support necessary to survivors to change their lives and reach gender equality.
The Kering Foundation provides flexible fundings to cover core activities.
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