Most sanctions for new forms of school violence in South Korea were mild, lawmaker says

About 77.7 percent of disciplinary measures imposed for new forms of school violence in South Korea were mild sanctions, according to education ministry data disclosed by lawmaker Han Byung-do on Oct. 12.

Committees reviewed 490 cases from 2024 through August 2026 and imposed 1,961 measures on 1,232 students. Of those measures, 1,523 consisted of written apologies, restrictions on contacting victims or school service. The percentage describes sanctions, rather than the proportion of students or incidents.

Fewer than 10 percent of the measures, or 193, involved more serious sanctions such as suspension or transfer. The figures cover new forms of school violence, including so-called yacha rule fights, in which pressure to participate can be presented as mutual agreement.

Han, a Democratic Party lawmaker, called for more detailed review guidelines that distinguish organizing, watching, filming and circulating fight videos. He said these distinctions would help committees identify coercion disguised as consent. Police have warned that an agreement between participants does not make such fights lawful.