The number of school violence-related sanctions issued in nationwide middle schools last year was tallied at 36,069, nearly three times that of high schools.
On the 11th, Jongno Academy announced the results of an analysis of school violence review cases and sanction counts from 3,295 middle schools nationwide based on data released by the School Alert system. The number of sanctions against students perpetrating school violence last year was 36,069, a 19.0% (5,767) increase from the previous year (30,302). The total number of review cases was 17,833, an increase of 27.3% (3,829) compared to the previous year (14,004).
By region, Gyeonggi Province saw an increase of 35.9%, Incheon 30.4%, Seoul 14.5%, Daejeon 38.6%, and Chungnam 35.0%, with all 17 metropolitan and provincial areas seeing an increase in review cases. The national average increase rate was 27.3%.
Compared to high schools, the number of sanctions was 2.8 times higher, and the review count was 2.4 times higher. The number of school violence sanctions for the 2,380 high schools nationwide last year, as published by School Alert, was 12,975, with 7,446 review cases.
In particular, the number of sanctions corresponding to severe penalties, such as "transfer", increased from 474 to 891, an 88.0% (417 cases) rise, while the number of students who received a "class change" sanction increased from 389 cases in 2023 to 536 cases in 2024, a 37.8% (147 cases) increase.
Regionally, the number of sanctions was highest in Seoul (2,800 cases), followed by Gyeonggi (7,271 cases) and Incheon (1,684 cases). In local areas, cities like Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Ulsan recorded sanction rates that were 3 to 4 times higher than in high schools. Gwangju was 3.6 times higher than high schools, Daejeon 3.3 times, Ulsan 3.3 times, and Sejong was at a level of 3.5 times.
By type of offense, physical violence accounted for the highest percentage at 30.9%, followed by verbal violence (29.3%), cyber violence (11.6%), and sexual violence (9.2%). Particularly, cases of cyber violence surged by 52.4% compared to the previous year. Bullying saw a 34.6% increase, and extortion rose by 32.3%. The most significant portion of the sanction outcomes was for the measure "prohibition of contact, intimidation, and retaliation (29.2%)." Written apologies (20.1%) and school service (20.9%) followed.
Some high schools indicated that they reflect the sanctions of students involved in school violence in the entrance process. Gyeonggi Science High School, Daejeon Science High School, Seoul Science High School, Sejong Science and Arts Gifted School, and Incheon Science and Arts Gifted School are known to disadvantage students with records of school violence in the admission process.
Jongno Academy noted, "The number of sanctions for school violence occurring in middle schools is higher than that in high schools, and the rates of transfers and class changes corresponding to severe penalties are also significantly increasing," adding, "One should not be complacent, thinking there are no special disadvantages when graduating to high school."