Nearly 8 in 10 school violence cases face mild penalties: report

SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- A significant majority of school violence cases are resulting in lenient penalties, with nearly 80% of disciplinary actions being considered mild, according to data submitted to lawmaker Han Byung-do of the ruling Democratic Party. Between 2024 and August this year, 490 cases of school violence were reviewed by school disciplinary committees. Out of the 1,961 disciplinary measures taken against 1,232 students, 77.7%, or 1,523 measures, were classified as "light." These mild measures include actions such as requiring a written apology or ordering the perpetrator to keep a distance from the victim, and they leave no official record of the incident or punishment. Less than 10% of the measures, totaling 193, involved more severe consequences like suspension or school transfers. The report comes as new forms of school violence, such as the "yacha rule" where victims are pressured into physical fights under the guise of mutual agreement, are reportedly on the rise. Rep. Han emphasized the need for detailed guidelines to identify coercion disguised as consent in such incidents. Police have also issued warnings that the "yacha rule" constitutes a crime, irrespective of any mutual consent or written agreement.