Clutching an iron hair curler radiating scorching heat, a schoolgirl torments a classmate in a desolate school gymnasium.
The curler sizzles raw flesh, as the camera pans to show scars on the victim’s body.
This scene from The Glory, an audacious South Korean drama that achieved global success, shows viewers the depth of the country’s school bullying epidemic.
Photo: AFP
While some critics have panned The Glory for its deeply disturbing scenes, some of which are based on true events — including the use of a hair curler — the drama’s unapologetic depiction of pervasive school violence has resonated within South Korean society, reigniting calls for action to address the issue.
The latest government figures show cases of school violence and bullying have surged in the last decade in South Korea. In February, President Yoon Suk-yeol vowed to end school violence and the government has moved to ensure bullying records must be more prominently reflected when applying to university.
Yet teacher organizations argue that the efforts are insufficient and that more emphasis should be placed on preventing children from becoming bullies in the first place.
Photo: AFP
MORE MALICIOUS METHODS
Keumjoo Kwak, a psychology professor at Seoul National University, says that cases of school violence and bullying in South Korea reflect the dynamics of the collectivist society, where peer pressure plays a significant role in shaping behavior.
“We form a group and torment others. The victims may be ostracized by an entire class or even by the whole school,” Kwak said.
“The bullying entails persistent and repeated harm over time, which is frequently psychological or emotional.”
She says school bullying and school violence have always existed in South Korea, but the methods used have become more sophisticated and malicious, imitating scenes from films and using social media to spread the harm.
Bullying can have a severe impact on an individual.
Lee Sang-woo, an elementary school teacher and director at the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU), says that school violence and bullying can significantly lower a student’s self-esteem and result in social isolation and increased levels of depression and anxiety.
“Victims often believe they cannot resolve the problem of school bullying, which negatively affects their physical and mental health. It can lead to academic decline and long-term avoidance of attending school, or even dropping out,” Lee said.
In extreme cases, some turn to taking their own lives. A recent study of university students who had experienced school violence found that more than half had considered suicide.
Kwak says the competitive and high-pressure environment many students in South Korea face can intensify the problem of bullying.
She says students are subjected to intense academic pressure and long hours of studying, primarily centered on university entrance exams. This creates a highly competitive, hierarchical, and monotonous environment devoid of physical activities to expend energy — and that can lead to some individuals bullying others “as a source of amusement”.
SURGE OF BULLYING CLAIM
Taking action against violence and bullying can be difficult, but for those who do, the struggle can be long, with one in three victims unable to get any help. The number of legal disputes involving school violence has doubled in the last two years; accused bullies filed the majority of them.
A recent controversy involving lawyer Chung Sun-sin and his son’s bullying case attracted widespread attention in South Korea. The son was accused of verbally abusing a high school peer and was ordered to transfer schools.
After it was reported that Chung had used his position as a senior prosecutor and legal expert to try to reverse disciplinary action against his son, his appointment as National Office of Investigation director was withdrawn.
The Chung Sun-sin scandal is not an isolated incident, and is part of a broader trend of #MeToo-style bullying revelations that have emerged over the last few years.
The accusers, often anonymous, expose the bullying of their alleged abusers, especially when those individuals are celebrities or hold influential positions. A recent case involved the contract termination of K-pop rookie Kim Ga-ram with girl group Le Sserafim after school bullying allegations appeared online.
The director of The Glory, Ahn Gil-ho, also became embroiled in such shaming after anonymous allegations of school violence surfaced online. He later admitted to it and apologized.
‘VICTIMS NEED SUPPORT’
As part of moves to stamp out school violence, lawmakers are considering amendments to relevant laws to ensure prompt resolution of school bullying cases.
The government has also announced the inclusion of bullying records in regular university admissions and enhanced support for victims.
Teacher groups have mostly welcomed the efforts but say more needs to be done to restore relationships between students.
In a statement, the Korean Federation of Teachers Union emphasized the importance of educational solutions over punitive measures, including the creation of specialized institutions for perpetrators and education for their parents.
The Korean Federation of Teachers Associations called for compensation for teachers dealing with cases of school violence and a more nuanced approach according to each school’s situation.
Kwak at Seoul National University says victims and perpetrators must be supported to address the problem.
“Victims need counselling and support to overcome their trauma. Perpetrators need to be held accountable for their actions but also given the opportunity to change. If we leave them as they are, they will continue to harm others as adults.”
Lee from the KTU says that building a trusting relationship that encourages students to tell their teachers about bullying and periodically patrolling the school premises will help.
Kwak also points to preventive education from a young age and the need to teach empathy, cooperation, and respect for others.
“Without implementing such measures, South Korea will continue to face dreadful cases of school violence every year.”
That US assistance was a model for Taiwan’s spectacular development success was early recognized by policymakers and analysts. In a report to the US Congress for the fiscal year 1962, former President John F. Kennedy noted Taiwan’s “rapid economic growth,” was “producing a substantial net gain in living.” Kennedy had a stake in Taiwan’s achievements and the US’ official development assistance (ODA) in general: In September 1961, his entreaty to make the 1960s a “decade of development,” and an accompanying proposal for dedicated legislation to this end, had been formalized by congressional passage of the Foreign Assistance Act. Two
Despite the intense sunshine, we were hardly breaking a sweat as we cruised along the flat, dedicated bike lane, well protected from the heat by a canopy of trees. The electric assist on the bikes likely made a difference, too. Far removed from the bustle and noise of the Taichung traffic, we admired the serene rural scenery, making our way over rivers, alongside rice paddies and through pear orchards. Our route for the day covered two bike paths that connect in Fengyuan District (豐原) and are best done together. The Hou-Feng Bike Path (后豐鐵馬道) runs southward from Houli District (后里) while the
March 31 to April 6 On May 13, 1950, National Taiwan University Hospital otolaryngologist Su You-peng (蘇友鵬) was summoned to the director’s office. He thought someone had complained about him practicing the violin at night, but when he entered the room, he knew something was terribly wrong. He saw several burly men who appeared to be government secret agents, and three other resident doctors: internist Hsu Chiang (許強), dermatologist Hu Pao-chen (胡寶珍) and ophthalmologist Hu Hsin-lin (胡鑫麟). They were handcuffed, herded onto two jeeps and taken to the Secrecy Bureau (保密局) for questioning. Su was still in his doctor’s robes at
President William Lai’s (賴清德) March 13 national security speech marked a turning point. He signaled that the government was finally getting serious about a whole-of-society approach to defending the nation. The presidential office summarized his speech succinctly: “President Lai introduced 17 major strategies to respond to five major national security and united front threats Taiwan now faces: China’s threat to national sovereignty, its threats from infiltration and espionage activities targeting Taiwan’s military, its threats aimed at obscuring the national identity of the people of Taiwan, its threats from united front infiltration into Taiwanese society through cross-strait exchanges, and its threats from
RSS