School violence case reviews surge by nearly 88% since 2021, while reports fall
Deliberative committees examined 29,405 potential school-violence cases last year, an 87.9% rise from 2021, even as reported incidents have declined since 2023.
According to ministry figures released by Rep. Kim Hee-jung of the People Power Party, deliberative committees at regional education offices reviewed 29,405 potential school-violence cases last year, marking an 87.9% increase from the 15,653 cases recorded in 2021. Over the same period, the total number of reported school-violence incidents peaked at 61,445 in 2023 before decreasing to 58,502 in 2024 and 56,880 in 2025.
The shift indicates that a growing share of cases is being escalated to committees rather than being settled by schools, with school-handled cases falling from 64.8% in 2021 to 48.3% in 2025. Committees are composed of education officials, current and former teachers, legal and other experts, and local parents, and they may receive cases even when schools deem them minor if victims or parents request review. Kim urged the ministry and local offices to scrutinize the response and support systems for victims.
Why it matters
Rising committee reviews suggest schools are less able to resolve violence cases internally, affecting student safety and policy oversight.
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