Serious School Violence Perpetrators Strictly Handled Through the 'Wubeomsonyeon Transfer System'

Ministry of Education Announces 4th Basic Plan for School Violence Prevention and Measures
Expansion of Protection and Healing for Victimized Students... Strengthening Educational and Guidance Measures for Perpetrators

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] In the future, when school violence occurs, the response system will be strengthened to quickly protect the victimized students from the early stages, and dedicated support institutions will be expanded. For serious cases of school violence, perpetrators will be sent to the family court juvenile division and required to receive special education, among other strict measures.

The Ministry of Education announced the "4th Basic Plan for School Violence Prevention and Countermeasures (2020?2024)" on the 15th, which includes these measures.

While the 3rd plan, which was carried out until the end of last year, focused on expanding school violence prevention education and enhancing infrastructure for student safety, counseling, and support to strengthen overall conditions for prevention and response, the 4th plan aims to foster a school culture based on respect and consideration, improve trust in schools, and strengthen the roles of families and society.

The Ministry of Education will first strengthen the educational role of schools in preventing and responding to school violence. Programs such as the "Curriculum-linked Eoullim" program, developed in the form of student activity sheets to naturally conduct prevention education through regular classes at each school, will be expanded.

Additionally, to reinforce the educational role of schools regarding school violence, minor cases will be resolved through the "Principal's Self-resolution System," and relationship restoration programs will be developed and distributed.

The number of victim protection institutions and family-type Wee Centers, currently at 48 locations, will be increased to 52 this year and to 60 by 2024.

Serious school violence will be dealt with strictly, and education for perpetrators will be strengthened to prevent recurrence. In particular, for serious school violence cases that meet the criteria for applying the Juvenile Act, the "Delinquent Juvenile Referral System," where the police chief directly submits the case to the competent court as a juvenile protection case, will be actively utilized to promptly separate perpetrators from victims.

The Ministry of Education plans to supplement special education programs for perpetrators to prevent recurrence of school violence and to lower the age limit for the "Culpable Juvenile" system, currently applied to those under 14, to under 13.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "In cooperation with related ministries and metropolitan and provincial offices of education, we will strictly respond to serious school violence to protect each student, strengthen the educational role of schools regarding school violence, and create a school culture where relationship restoration based on genuine apology and reflection by perpetrators can be achieved."