Why is school bullying worsening in Korea despite prevention steps?
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Loading... - Jin-woo Kuan
- 03 Apr 2023
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School bullying in Korea has never disappeared. Although there are local school violence prevention committees run by education offices, victims and bullies do not trust the organizations and often take their decisions to court. While legal disputes rage on for months, the bullying continues. Gettyimagesbank
In the Korean Netflix series, "The Glory," an elementary school teacher seeks vengeance against her former bullies who had targeted her when she was young. The thriller, which achieved phenomenal ratings thanks to its vengeful heroine played by hallyu star Song Hye-kyo, is expected to release its second season in March. Part of its popularity is derived from the catharsis Song brings by getting revenge for what she had to endure, such as having her bare skin seared by a hair straightener and being scratched in the chest with a safety pin.
The sadistic torture portrayed in the series is based on a true story from a girls' middle school in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in 2006. Bullies in the third grade at the school had also messed up the victim's hair and scratched her hands so badly they later became swollen. The school put the bullies on a watch list to prevent future offenses and took no further action. The victim, even after 17 years, still remains traumatized.
The Special Act on School Violence Prevention was introduced in Korea in 2004, which led to the launch of committees in grade schools across the country to monitor bullying. Since then, such acts of violence have been managed, at least nominally, by school authorities. But the problem remains rampant. Some victims continue to take their own lives and assailants keep getting away, without receiving punishment that matches their cruelty. Victims say school violence prevention committees, responsible for assessing the degree of seriousness in each case and meting out punishment to perpetrators, cannot be trusted. Read More…
