The Gyeongnam Office of Education announced on December 10 that it held a countermeasure meeting with relevant agencies and established measures to prevent recurrence in response to the recent incident involving injuries and fatalities among middle school students in Changwon.
The meeting, held on December 9 in the main office's second-floor conference room, was attended by the Director of Future Education and the Director of Democratic Citizenship Education from the provincial office of education, the head of the Changwon Education Support Office's Wee Center, officials from Changwon City Hall, Masan Hoewon District Office, Masan Happo District Office, the head of the Women and Youth Division at Masan Dongbu Police Station, and representatives from the Gyeongnam Family Center, Youth Counseling and Welfare Center, Crime Victim Support Center, Smile Center, and Wee Cafe Daon.
The participants discussed emergency protection, as well as medical and legal support methods for the affected student, their parents, related school students, and staff.
The provincial office of education decided to strengthen psychological counseling for the student who was harmed and for witnesses, and to recognize any absences as attendance.
Additionally, if the student wishes, the office will actively consider protective measures for learning and daily life, such as facilitating a school transfer.
Furthermore, the office plans to implement digital grooming prevention education in all schools across the province before the winter break. This education will target cases where perpetrators use chat apps or social networking services (SNS) to build emotionally close relationships, exert psychological control, and then attempt sexual crimes.
The Changwon Wee Center will set up a special counseling room at the school attended by students involved in the incident, and will also provide professional treatment and bereavement counseling in cooperation with the Smile Center.
The Crime Victim Support Center plans to provide emergency tuition and living expense support to the affected student's family, reimburse actual medical expenses, and offer counseling and funeral expense support to the bereaved family of the deceased student.
Changwon City Hall is considering designating a child protection zone in Hapseong-dong, Masan Hoewon District, where the incident occurred, and will conduct joint inspections and campaigns involving public, private, and police organizations.
Additionally, the city will provide guidance and inspections for lodging businesses such as motels, offer training for business owners, and open a short-term youth shelter.
The Masan Dongbu Police Station will increase regular patrols and continue to receive reports and delete harmful online posts and comments related to the incident.
Wee Cafe Daon and the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center will also expand emergency programs, focusing on preventive activities against depression and providing mobile counseling services for local students.
Previously, on the afternoon of December 3, a man in his 20s, identified as Mr. A, stabbed three out of four male and female middle school students with a weapon at a motel in Hapseong-dong, Masan Hoewon District, Changwon, and then jumped out of the motel window.
As a result of the incident, Mr. A and two middle school students died, while one middle school student sustained serious injuries.
Regarding the incident, Superintendent Park Jonghoon stated at the Monday meeting on December 8, "The most urgent task is psychological and emotional healing for the students and staff who have been deeply shocked." He also urged, "All departments of the Office of Education, education support offices, and affiliated institutions should work together to consider how to systematically prevent such accidents and protect our children."
At the countermeasure meeting, it was stated, "We will prioritize the safety and recovery of the affected students and their families, and will work closely with relevant agencies to ensure that schools, families, and the local community can swiftly implement all necessary measures to prevent secondary harm and recurrence."
It was further added, "We will consult with local governments and the central government to secure cultural spaces where young people can participate in activities safely."
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