World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Nearly 78% of school violence penalties in South Korea were mild
In South Korea, school disciplinary committees reviewed 490 school violence cases from 2024 through August 2026.
The cases involved 1,232 students and led to 1,961 disciplinary measures.
Nearly 78% of those measures were considered mild, such as requiring a written apology or keeping away from a victim, and left no official record.
Fewer than 10% involved suspension or a transfer to another school.
The figures come as a practice called the “yacha rule” is reportedly spreading, in which bullied students are pressured into physical fights presented as mutual agreements.
Police say the practice is a crime even if those involved appear to consent or sign an agreement.
Lawmaker Han Byung-do has called for detailed guidelines to assess the roles of people who organize, watch, film or share videos of the fights.
A report cited by South Korean lawmaker Han Byung-do found that 77.7 percent of disciplinary measures for school violence from 2024 to August 2026 were considered mild.
The measures covered 490 cases reviewed by school disciplinary committees and 1,232 students.
Mild measures included written apologies and orders to keep away from victims, and did not leave official records.
The report comes amid concern about the spread of the “yacha rule,” in which victims are pushed into unwanted physical fights under the guise of mutual agreement.
Han called for detailed guidelines to assess the roles of people who organize, watch, film or circulate videos of such fights.
- Who
- South Korean students involved in school violence, and lawmaker Han Byung-do, who cited the data.
- What
- Nearly 78 percent of disciplinary measures were considered mild and left no official record.
- When
- The data covered 2024 to August 2026; the report was cited on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- New forms of school violence, including forced fights under the “yacha rule,” are reportedly spreading.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
There needs to a detailed guideline to determine the level of involvement by organizing, watching, filming or circulating videos of (such fights) so as to identify coercion disguised as consent
School disciplinary committees reviewed 490 cases of the violence described in the report.
Yonhap reported the figures cited by Han Byung-do.
- Cases reviewed
- 490
- Students involved
- 1,232
- Disciplinary measures
- 1,961
- Measures considered mild
- 1,523, or 77.7 percent
- Suspensions or school transfers
- 193, or less than 10 percent of measures
Sources
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