22.08.2016

Huffington Post via Yeonhap News

While [a new survey has found that] physical violence in schools appears to be declining, students are more likely these days to be severely emotionally affected by other types of bullying. School violence rates were highest in Busan this year, analysis of the survey’s results reveals, as [across the country] 117 reporting centres recived 2,089 reported cases of school violence. 39.4% of the total, 824 cases, involved serious violence or intimidation. Comparing the figures to the previous year reveals that these serious cases have declined by 7.5%, while bullying and harassment cases fell by 1.4% and sexual harassment cases fell by 0.7% to make up 3.1% of reported totals. In contrast, cases of insulting [speech] were up 34.5% from the previous year. A police source said that these cases were typically arguments between friends which developed into something more severe involving profanity.

Overall, primary school pupils were the most likely to have experienced violence, making up 59% of respondees who had been exposed to violent behaviour. Junior secondary school children made up 20.5% of repsondents who had experienced violence, and high school students made up 11.9% of respondents who had been the victims of violence.

38 cases required a formal police response; [nationwide] 363 police officers specialise in school violence crimes. “Thanks to educational campaigns, we have seen a large reduction in school violence,” a police spokesperson said. “We’re seeing a lot less intimidation of students. However, [as usage of insulting/contemptuos words is rising], we must be aware that insulting words can cause wounds to the psyche which may not heal easily.”

Analysis: Korea has an extremely complex relationship with violence in schools. As a strictly hierarchical society, very few people question the use of corporal punishment by teachers in schools, although in some provinces (notably Gyeonggido, which surrounds Seoul) its usage is formally banned. The Korean cultural requirement for absolute obedience to one’s elders (at least in theory) also means that bullying of younger pupils by older children is a persistent issue. (The term hakkyo pokryeok, “school violence”, is a media buzzword used to describe all types of school-based harassment and bullying, not just physical violence.) In recent years there’s been real will at all levels of Korean society to move away from the often brutal character of education, but certain of Korea’s specific cultural traits makes it challenging for these initiatives to fully succeed.