Victim of School Violence Who Had Snacks Taken by Diabetic Student Faces Harsher Sanctions in School Violence Committee Rehearing

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi] The School Violence Countermeasure Committee (School Violence Committee) ruled in favor of a diabetic student in a retrial regarding school violence that occurred during the process of taking away a hypoglycemic snack from the diabetic student (refer to our January 10, 2020, page 10 report).

According to the police on the 20th, the School Violence Committee of a middle school in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, issued an in-school service punishment to student B, who took away and did not return the hypoglycemic snack of A, a type 1 diabetic, at the retrial held on the 10th. Previously, the committee had decided on mutual written apologies in the incident where A was hit after having his hypoglycemic snack taken away in November last year, but after the retrial, the disciplinary action was strengthened. In the first committee, the act of taking away the hypoglycemic snack from the diabetic student was regarded as "a prank among classmates," resulting in relatively light punishment.

However, following our report, public opinion surged at the school site regarding the lack of awareness about diabetic students, and the retrial results of the committee are known to have significantly reflected A’s grievances. It was accepted that A, a diabetic, was in a critically urgent hypoglycemic state during the assault incident, and that B had frequently taken away snacks from A, according to A’s side. A’s guardian said, "Although the punishment cannot be considered strong enough, the fact that it was strengthened compared to the initial result shows that the first committee was inadequate," and added, "I hope an environment will be created at schools in the future that better understands the difficulties of type 1 diabetic students."

Previously, A, the perpetrator of this school violence, has suffered from type 1 diabetes since childhood. In November last year, when hypoglycemic symptoms appeared, B took away the jelly A carried to prevent shock. A, who was sensitive due to hypoglycemia, became enraged and hit B when the snack was taken away just as he was about to eat the jelly. The incident escalated into a school violence case when B, the victim of the assault, requested the holding of the School Violence Committee. After the first committee, held without the vice principal at B’s request, decided on a written apology, A requested a retrial, and B filed a police complaint against A for assault earlier this month.

The Seoul Western Police Station, which is handling the case, completed questioning A on the 17th. Inside and outside the police expect a decision of suspension of prosecution considering the minor nature of B’s assault injuries and the fact that they are middle school students.