[2023 National Audit] One in Four School Violence Cases Among 1st and 2nd Grade Elementary Students Ruled 'Not School Violence'

Overall Elementary Schools' 'Not School Violence' Rulings Account for 10% Range
"Educational Adjustment and Reconciliation Functions Must Be Strengthened"

It has been revealed that one out of four cases of school violence (hereinafter referred to as school violence) involving lower grades (1st to 2nd grade) in elementary schools is judged not to be school violence.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Education on the 16th to Kim Young-ho, a member of the National Assembly Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the total number of school violence cases reviewed for 1st and 2nd graders in elementary schools across 17 cities and provinces nationwide was 1,137. Among these, 281 cases (24.7%) were ultimately judged as 'not school violence' after review by the school violence committee.

This means that one out of four school violence reviews for lower-grade elementary students results in a judgment that it is not school violence.

When broken down by grade, there were a total of 531 school violence reviews for 1st graders, of which 138 cases (26.0%) were judged not to be school violence. For 2nd graders, out of 606 total school violence reviews, 143 cases (23.6%) were ultimately concluded not to be school violence.

The proportion of cases judged not to be school violence appears to increase in the lower grades.

In Sejong City, there were a total of 4 school violence reviews for 1st graders last year, but 3 cases (75%) were concluded not to be school violence. In Busan, there were 30 school violence reviews for 1st graders, and more than half, 16 cases (53.3%), were judged not to be school violence.

Assemblyman Kim diagnosed that the proportion of 'not school violence' cases among lower-grade elementary students is notably higher compared to the overall school violence review results for all elementary, middle, and high schools. In the 2021 academic year, the total number of school violence reviews for all elementary, middle, and high schools was 15,653, of which 1,665 cases (10.6%) were judged not to be school violence. In the 2022 academic year, out of 23,603 total reviews, 3,037 cases (12.9%) were judged not to be school violence. This is about half the level of 1st and 2nd graders in elementary school.

Assemblyman Kim said, "Although there is a sharp social debate between uniform punishment and educational reconciliation for school violence in lower grades, as the data shows, school violence in lower elementary grades often involves cases that can be relatively resolved and reconciled." He added, "For school violence cases in lower elementary grades, where minor pranks or misunderstandings among children are sometimes reported as school violence, it is necessary to prepare more detailed support measures to strengthen the educational mediation and reconciliation functions."

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