Alarm in Classrooms in South Korea: Violence on the Rise in Elementary Schools
Recent data released by the Ministry of Education in South Korea reveal that school violence at the elementary level has reached alarming levels. According to a nationwide study, one in every 20 elementary school students reported being exposed to school violence, with verbal abuse identified as the most common form.
The survey, conducted online between September 22 and October 21, 2025, covered approximately 220,000 students. The overall victimization rate was recorded at 3 percent. However, this rate rose to 5 percent among elementary school students, while it was reported as 2.4 percent in middle schools and 1 percent in high schools. According to the findings, verbal abuse ranked first, accounting for 40.3 percent of all cases. This was followed by group bullying at 15.3 percent and physical violence at 13.9 percent. Other forms of violence, such as cyberbullying, coercion, and extortion, were reported at lower rates.
Another striking finding of the survey was that the proportion of students who witnessed school violence reached 7.7 percent, more than double the victimization rate. Among elementary school students, this figure increased to 11.2 percent. A large majority of students reported a desire to help the victim in such situations, while anger toward the perpetrator and frustration at being unable to intervene were also among the most common emotional responses. Meanwhile, the rate of students who admitted to committing school violence was recorded at 1 percent. A significant portion of these students reported that they later apologized, while others stated that they received guidance from teachers or warnings from their families. The findings indicate the need to strengthen safety measures in South Korean schools, particularly by reinforcing preventive policies for younger age groups.