In Korea, school violence reported by elementary students reached a record 5.7 percent, while the overall rate across elementary, middle and high schools hit 2.9 percent, the highest since the survey began in 2013. The Ministry of Education and 16 regional education offices said serious forms such as forced fights and so-called yacha rules are becoming more common. The ministry also said it will tighten cooperation and response procedures after an August alert with the National Police Agency.
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In Korea, the share of elementary school students reporting school violence reached a record 5.7 percent. The overall rate of reported school violence across elementary, middle and high schools hit 2.9 percent, the highest level since the survey began.
Educators are increasingly concerned as serious forms of school violence, such as the so-called "yacha rules" and forced fights, become more frequent.
The Ministry of Education and 16 regional education offices announced Wednesday the results of the 2026 first-round survey on school violence, which covered approximately 3.9 million students in the fourth through 12th grades. The ministry conducted the online survey covering all eligible students over four weeks starting in April, with approximately 3.19 million, or 81.9 percent, participating.
