"Four Senior Members of High School Judo Club Assault Junior, Causing Severe Injuries with 32 Weeks Recovery"

A victim student who was diagnosed with a 32-week recovery period due to school violence that occurred at a high school in Iksan, Jeonbuk / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Allegations have been raised that school violence occurred in the judo club of a high school in Iksan, Jeonbuk, resulting in a victim student sustaining serious injuries.

According to the victim student's side on the 8th, the incident took place around 9 p.m. on the 4th in the auditorium of a high school in Iksan. During a break in judo training, first-year student A (18) was thrown off the stage by four seniors, including second-year senior B (18).

Falling about 1 meter below, A suffered severe injuries to his arm and other areas, receiving a 32-week medical diagnosis and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital. Although they are all the same age, A had taken a year off during middle school before entering high school, establishing a senior-junior relationship with the others.

Regarding this, A's mother stated, "While my son was resting and waiting for snacks, one of the seniors suggested doing tumbling, and when he refused, they called three more and grabbed his arms and legs to throw him down." She added, "Despite his refusal, this was a clear act of school violence, and my son was so seriously injured that he may have to give up judo."

A's side also raised concerns about the school's response after the incident. A's mother pointed out, "The judo club members were scheduled to train until 10 p.m., but neither the coach nor the supervisor was present in the auditorium." She criticized, "If a manager had been there, the violence would not have occurred, and my son would not have been injured."

A's side has filed a complaint with the police for a fact-finding investigation and requested the education office to hold a School Violence Deliberation Committee.

The Iksan Police Station plans to investigate whether school violence occurred within this high school.