School Violence Records to Be Kept in Student Records for Up to 4 Years... Reflected in 2026 College Admissions

The retention period for school records (student records) of disciplinary actions taken against students who commit school violence will be extended from a maximum of 2 years to 4 years.

Along with this, starting from the 2026 university admissions, which current first-year high school students will take, the disciplinary results for students who commit school violence will be mandatorily reflected not only in early admissions but also in regular admissions, which primarily focus on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scores.

On the 12th, the government held the 19th School Violence Countermeasure Committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, where the 'Comprehensive Measures to Eradicate School Violence' containing these details were reviewed and approved.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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First, the retention period of student records for disciplinary actions No. 6 (suspension of attendance), No. 7 (class transfer), and No. 8 (school transfer), which are imposed on students who commit serious school violence, will be extended from a maximum of 2 years after graduation to 4 years. The government plans to revise the related enforcement regulations and implement the extension of the student record retention period starting next year.

Oh Seung-geol, Director of the Responsible Education Policy Office at the Ministry of Education, explained, "Since the relaxation of student record entries, the number of school violence cases has increased, and this relaxation may be one of the causes of the increase in school violence," adding, "The educational perspective that responsibility follows when school violence occurs is also a very important direction."

The government plans to verify whether the victim student consents and whether the perpetrator student has filed an appeal lawsuit during the review process to delete the disciplinary actions recorded in the student records by the School Violence Countermeasure Committee (SVCC).

To prevent perpetrators from avoiding the entry of disciplinary actions in the student records by withdrawing from school without remorse, students will not be allowed to withdraw before the SVCC's disciplinary decision is made. The disciplinary actions of withdrawn students will also be reflected in university admissions.

The government will include in the 'Basic Matters for the 2026 University Admissions' the requirement that SVCC disciplinary actions must be mandatorily reflected in admissions processes based on CSAT, essay, and practical/performance evaluations. The Basic Matters for University Admissions set the principles that universities must follow for admissions, and are prepared by the Korea Council for University Education (KCUE).

Accordingly, until now, SVCC disciplinary actions have been considered only in student record-based admissions such as student record curriculum and comprehensive evaluations, but from now on, SVCC disciplinary actions will be reflected in all admissions processes.

According to the regulation that requires publication at least 2 years and 6 months before the admission date, the specific details of the Basic Matters for the 2026 University Admissions are expected to be announced in August this year.

The Basic Matters for the 2025 University Admissions, which apply to current second-year high school students, were already announced last year, so reflecting SVCC disciplinary actions is not mandatory.

However, with the recent heightened awareness of school violence, some universities are voluntarily reflecting SVCC disciplinary actions in the 2025 university admissions process focused on the CSAT.

Jang Sang-yoon, Vice Minister of Education, is answering questions related to the comprehensive measures to eradicate school violence on the afternoon of the 12th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Ministry of Education]

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The Ministry of Education explained that for students who commit serious school violence, SVCC disciplinary actions will be reflected in university admissions to an extent that can affect acceptance or rejection, but the specific methods and criteria for reflection will be decided by each university.

In some departments or admissions processes where character is emphasized in the curriculum, such as education and teacher training colleges or principal recommendation admissions, some universities may fundamentally prohibit applications from students who have committed school violence.

Additionally, the period during which the school principal must immediately separate the perpetrator and victim students when school violence occurs will be extended from 3 days to within 7 days.

After separation, the school principal will be able to take 'emergency measures against the perpetrator student' including class transfer, and the suspension of attendance for the perpetrator student will also be allowed until the SVCC's review decision, with related laws to be amended accordingly.

If the victim student requests, the school principal will be granted the authority to impose suspension of attendance or class transfer on the perpetrator student, giving the victim the right to request separation.

If the perpetrator student appeals the SVCC decision by applying for suspension of execution or filing a lawsuit, the victim student will be notified, and support such as appointing a public defender will be provided so that the victim can have the right to testify during the appeal process.

The government will also expand the number of specialized support institutions for victim students from 303 this year to 400 next year.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated, "We will ensure that the awareness that 'there is always a price to pay for school violence' takes root in school environments."

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