"Still Traumatized... Contact the Victims"
'School Violence' Lasting Effects into Adulthood... "Want a Public Apology"
On the 25th, a post accusing past school violence victimization was uploaded on social networking services (SNS) in the Gangneung area.
On the Gangneung Facebook account 'Gangneung-si Daesin Jeonhaedeurimnida,' a post titled "Hello, 1995-born delinquents of ○○○ Middle School?" was uploaded.
"'The Glory' reminds me of my old self... I want an apology rather than threats or revenge"
An anonymous informant said, "The world has really improved. I can even send you a message like this, though as a school violence victim, I dare not contact the perpetrators directly..." and added, "The Netflix drama is really popular these days, right? You must have watched the school violence drama? If not, I hope you watch it!"
Here, the Netflix drama is presumed to refer to 'The Glory,' which depicts the revenge story of a student who suffered from school violence.
The informant continued, "I heard from those around me that it was very interesting, so I watched it, and tears flowed as I watched it. It felt like seeing my old self, and rather than enjoyment, feelings like sadness, anger, and sorrow swept through me."
He said, "How great it would be if I had as much evidence as the drama's protagonist. I despaired thinking that if I had been smarter, I might have been able to let go of the grudges in my heart, but thankfully, it was still on my old phone. Legal validity? I've already checked, but I don't want to demand settlement money or seek revenge through threats," adding, "Just one apology? Maybe that's all I want."
The informant said he suffered verbal abuse, physical assault, and extortion from the perpetrators. He also said he knows where the perpetrators currently run businesses, where their parents or spouses work, and even that some parents are police officers, urging the perpetrators to apologize.
He added, "In a world where SNS is active, if you feel guilty, just apologize," and concluded, "Don't worry about who I am; just contact everyone who bullied me. Besides me, my friends are still living with trauma and full of shame because of this."
Aftereffects persist into adulthood... "I want a sincere apology"
On the 17th, a survey conducted by the Korean Society of School Mental Health, a medical organization dedicated to promoting mental health in schools, targeting 65 specialists, found that 78.5% of specialists had experience treating victims of school violence.
Among them, 90.2% had treated victims who considered revenge against the perpetrators, and 47.1% of these had treated victims who had concrete revenge plans.
Specialists reported that victims mainly exhibited symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Many also complained of insomnia and difficulty controlling anger.
Although victims' symptoms improved with treatment, aftereffects were not easily healed. Specialists said that even if school violence stops, patients' symptoms do not immediately improve.
Additionally, 31.4% of specialists were treating patients with aftereffects lasting several years, and among them, 62.7% said that the aftereffects of school violence victims persist even after they become adults.
While symptoms like insomnia or depression may be resolved, distrust and feelings of betrayal toward people are difficult to heal.
According to the Korea Youth Counseling & Welfare Institute, students who suffered school violence said, "I feel helplessness, depression, anger, and distrust because I could not respond appropriately at the time of the incident," and "Rather than a written apology, I want to hear a sincere apology from the perpetrator in front of friends saying, 'I am truly sorry.'"
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