South Korea is grappling with a troubling rise in school violence, as new data reveals both physical and digital abuse among teenagers are on the rise.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Education on September 8, the number of reported school violence cases reached 58,502 in 2024, more than double the 25,903 cases in 2020.

Of particular concern is the rapid growth of sexual abuse and cyber violence. Between 2020 and 2024, authorities recorded more than 9,000 cases in these categories, including 4,588 sexual violence incidents and 4,534 cyberbullying cases. Many of these involved online harassment, defamation, and even the use of AI-powered deepfakes for sexual exploitation.

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While the National Police Agency noted that physical assault cases among teenagers decreased from 1,586 in 2015 to 1,286 in 2024, sexual crimes involving deepfakes surged from 192 in 2015 to 709 in 2024.

Another disturbing trend is the rise in teen dating violence. In 2024 alone, police investigated 626 students for relationship-related abuse, more than double the 280 cases reported in 2022.

The surge in school violence is also spilling into the courtroom. Legal disputes have sharply increased: cases where alleged perpetrators challenged school disciplinary measures rose from 202 in 2021 to 444 in 2024, while lawsuits filed by victims climbed from 53 to 96 in the same period.

Weak Hero Class 2 (L to R) Park Ji-hoon as Yeon Sieun, Lee Jun-young as Geum Seongje in Weak Hero Class 2 Cr. Darae Lee/Netflix © 2025

By law, school principals can only handle minor incidents internally, while severe cases must be reviewed by local education committees. However, both victims and accused students are increasingly questioning the fairness and effectiveness of how these cases are handled.

Experts warn that the shift from physical fights to psychological and digital abuse reflects a changing landscape of youth violence in the digital era. As schools, parents, and policymakers struggle to adapt, the growing number of victims highlights the urgent need for stronger preventive measures, digital literacy education, and legal protections.

Sources: Znews