"Upper-grade elementary student threatens child with weapon... Should it be overlooked if there is no harm?"

The Percentage of Elementary Students Involved in School Violence Exceeds Double Digits
The Age of School Violence Perpetrators Is Gradually Getting Younger

Netizens are reacting to a story about upper-grade elementary school students threatening younger students with a knife to demand money at an unmanned stationery store. On the 13th, an online community Nate Pann posted a thread titled "Is this school violence (hakppok)? Please help." A user identified as A, a parent of an elementary school child, claimed, "Three students in grades 1, 2, and 4 went to an unmanned stationery store, where one of two fifth-grade boys in the store asked if they had money while holding a cutter knife. When they said they did, the perpetrator demanded either that they buy something or give him money."

Netizens are reacting to a story about upper-grade elementary school students threatening younger students with knives to demand money at an unmanned convenience store. On the 13th, an online community Nate Pann posted a thread titled "Is this school violence? Please help." The photo is unrelated to the specific content of the article.
[Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@]

"Not realizing how scary the situation was, the three children started picking out their items," A explained. "Then the perpetrators followed the kids around, threatening them by saying, 'Do you want to die? Buy me something too.'" A added, "The perpetrators also asked, 'Do you know how painful it is to be stabbed with this knife?' and when the kiosk did not accept 50,000 won bills, they told the younger students to 'get lost.' The younger students left the store safely, and when they looked back, the perpetrators were scratching the handle of an abandoned kickboard with the knife."

"The children were not stabbed, and no money was taken from them. They are willing to apologize and reconcile, but the school has reported it as school violence, and the police are investigating," A said. "Is it possible for this to be treated as school violence or a criminal case when there was no actual harm?" They continued, "My hands and feet are shaking, and since the perpetrators attend the same school, I can't even send my child to school. However, the perpetrators say it was a joke. Their parents have stated they are willing to reconcile."

[Photo by Online Community 'Nate Pann']

A lamented, "The education office investigator concluded the investigation by saying, 'No money was taken, and no one was hurt. Right?' The investigation process made me question whether my child was really the victim." Netizens responded with comments such as, "If they were adults, it would have been attempted murder, but since they are kids, it's school violence," "Even if the money wasn't taken, it's still an attempted crime. Hiring a lawyer won't help; the only option is to ask for leniency through a settlement. It's a no-win situation," and "Threatening someone with a knife like that is a death threat."

Elementary School Students Account for 1,703 Cases of School Violence, Making Up 11% of Total

Earlier in May, an incident occurred in an apartment complex where an elementary school student stabbed three other students from the same school with a utility cutter knife, highlighting the increasing trend of school violence among elementary students. In fact, over 15,000 people nationwide were apprehended for school violence last year, the highest number in the past five years. Notably, the proportion of elementary school offenders exceeded double digits for the first time, indicating a trend toward younger perpetrators.

Amid ongoing reports of school violence incidents among elementary students, more than 15,000 people were apprehended nationwide last year for school violence, marking the highest number in the past five years.
[Photo by Kim Dahee, Asia Economy]

According to data released by the National Police Agency on the 6th, the number of school violence crime arrests last year was 15,438, a 7% increase from the previous year (14,432). Arrests for school violence decreased from 13,584 in 2019 to 11,331 in 2020, likely due to reduced in-person classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the numbers have gradually increased since then, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

In particular, last year, elementary school students accounted for 1,703 arrests, representing 11.0% of the total, marking the first time the figure reached double digits since related statistics began. The proportion of elementary school offenders was 5% (572) in 2020, rising steadily to 7.2% (858) in 2021 and 9.7% (1,399) in 2022. Among all school-age groups, middle school students accounted for the largest number of arrests at 5,005 (32.4%). The most common types of school violence last year were assault and injury (7,549 cases). Compared to 2022, extortion increased by 16.3% to 1,260 cases, and property damage rose by 31.4% to 222 cases.

The number of juvenile offenders committing crimes is also on the rise. Last year, the total number of juvenile offenders arrested by the police was 66,642, an 8.9% increase from 61,220 in 2022. Among them, the number of "chokbeop sonyeon" (juveniles aged 10 to under 14) arrested was 19,654, up 19.6% from 16,436 the previous year. However, since juveniles under 19 are protected under the Juvenile Act, the detention rate was only 0.8% (555 individuals).