Experts Emphasize "Focus on Prevention"
British media focused on the reality of school violence in Korea.
The British daily The Guardian reported on the 7th (local time) about the Netflix drama "The Glory," which gained worldwide popularity, highlighting a scene where a school violence perpetrator burns the victim's skin with a hot curling iron in the school gymnasium. The article stated that this scene shows how serious the problem of school violence is in Korea and revealed the darker side of Korean school life.
Some critics criticized the scene as too shocking, but the article noted that some scenes, including this one, are based on real events, and that the drama's depiction of widespread school violence has resonated within Korean society.
Imitating movies, spreading harm via SNS... Methods becoming more vicious
The Guardian reported that according to recent government statistics, school violence and bullying in Korea have surged over the past decade, with the methods becoming increasingly vicious.
Professor Kwak Geum-ju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology, in an interview with the media, pointed out that bullying and school violence have always existed in Korean society, but the methods have become more cunning and malicious, such as imitating scenes from movies and spreading harm through social networking services (SNS).
Professor Kwak analyzed that cases of school violence and bullying reflect the dynamics of a collectivist society where peer pressure plays a crucial role in shaping behavior.
He said, "We form groups and bully others," adding, "Victims can be ostracized by the entire class or even the whole school."
Professor Kwak emphasized, "Victims need counseling and support to overcome trauma," but also stressed, "Perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions and given opportunities to change. If we neglect perpetrators, they will continue to harm others even as adults."
Lee Sang-woo, director of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, analyzed that school violence and bullying can significantly lower students' self-esteem and lead to social isolation, depression, and anxiety.
He said, "Victims often believe they cannot resolve bullying issues, which negatively affects their physical and mental health," adding, "This can result in academic decline, prolonged school avoidance, or even dropping out."
Measures taken to eradicate violence... "Fundamental problem needs solving"
As calls to take action to solve the school violence problem grow louder, the government has also taken steps. President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed the preparation of measures to eradicate school violence in February, and related ministries have pushed for plans to give more weight to records of school violence perpetrators in university admissions.
However, teacher organizations criticized these efforts as insufficient. They argued that more focus should be placed on preventing children from being bullied at school in the first place.
The Guardian cited a recent study, noting that some victims of school violence even resort to extreme choices. According to the study, more than half of university students who experienced school violence have had suicidal thoughts.
In response, Representative Lee said that building trust by encouraging students to report bullying to teachers and regularly patrolling school premises would be helpful.
Professor Kwak pointed out that preventive education should start from an early age to teach empathy, cooperation, and respect for others. He analyzed, "If such measures are not taken, Korea will face horrific school violence incidents every year."
No help at the time... Tendencies to 'expose' when perpetrators gain fame
Meanwhile, legal disputes related to school violence have doubled over the past two years, with one in three victims experiencing prolonged disputes to the extent that they cannot receive any help. As an example, the case of lawyer Jung Soon-shin, who filed a lawsuit after opposing her son's school violence disciplinary action, was introduced.
The article also introduced cases such as an idol whose exclusive contract was terminated after being identified as a school violence perpetrator and PD Ahn Gil-ho, director of "The Glory." It noted a tendency in recent years for victims to expose school violence perpetrators when the perpetrators have become celebrities or hold influential positions.
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