The article centers around the concept of 'coercive control' identified by Professor Bridget Harris from Monash University, as a significant predictor indicating potential murder within intimate relationships. Unlike physical abuse, which is often recognized as a clear form of domestic violence, coercive control encompasses emotional and psychological components that are not easily identifiable. This leads to a call for a broader understanding and recognition of non-physical abuse as a form of violence that warrants serious attention.

Furthermore, the discussion is contextualized within a larger exchange project between South Korea and Australia focused on addressing technology-mediated gender-based violence. This project highlighted the stark differences in how domestic violence is perceived and categorized in both countries. In Australia, coercive control is becoming increasingly recognized and is actionable in certain jurisdictions even without physical violence, underscoring the need for South Korea to adapt its definitions and responses to contemporary forms of abuse which utilize digital means for control and monitoring.

The article concludes with a call to action for South Korea to recognize coercive control in its legal framework and for societal acknowledgment of the various forms of intimate partner violence that go beyond physical harm. The emphasis is placed on hearing victims' voices and reinforcing the understanding that emotional manipulation, digital surveillance, and social isolation are also serious violations of personal safety and autonomy.