Jeonnam Office of Education Launches Emergency Response to School Violence: "Protecting Victims Is the Top Priority"

Strengthening Education for Perpetrators and Preventing Secondary Harm

The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education has launched an emergency response to protect student victims and prevent recurrence, following recent school violence incidents at several schools in the province.

On May 19 at 2 p.m., the Office held a "School Violence Zero Center Director Countermeasure Meeting" at the Jeonnam Women's and Family Foundation to review the overall school violence response system. The meeting was attended by officials in charge of school violence at the main office, as well as the directors of the School Violence Zero Centers from 22 city and county education support offices.

The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education held a "School Violence Zero Center Director Countermeasure Meeting" to review the overall school violence response system. Provided by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

The participants agreed on the need for swift and comprehensive protection measures, noting both the seriousness of the school violence cases and the growing concerns over secondary harm, such as the exposure of victims' personal information.

The Office of Education has made the recovery of daily life and psychological stability for victims its top priority, and plans to provide immediate support through professional psychological counseling. For perpetrators, measures to prevent recurrence, such as special education, will be implemented in accordance with the school violence response manual.

Additionally, emergency response teams centered around the School Violence Zero Center are being dispatched to the field to quickly and objectively ascertain the facts. The Office is also strengthening its cooperation system with the police and other relevant agencies to prevent the indiscriminate distribution of videos and the exposure of students' personal information.

One School Violence Zero Center director stated, "This has reaffirmed the importance of initial response and the need for information sharing among related agencies," adding, "We will establish a more detailed and prompt response system so that victims, parents, and the local community can trust our efforts."

During the meeting, various response measures were discussed, including: the principle of responding to school violence within 48 hours of an incident; establishing a victim-centered protection system; preventing secondary harm resulting from media reports; educational intervention for perpetrators; and providing training for administrators in each region.

Kim Hobum, Director of Student Life Education, said, "This incident has highlighted the need to review and supplement the overall school violence response," and added, "From the very beginning of an incident, we will ensure that protection measures for victims are effective, and we will further refine our response manual and support system through close communication with those on the ground."