Reviewed school bullying cases increase for 3rd consecutive year, led by surge at international, elite private schools
Published: 31 May. 2026, 16:00
Updated: 31 May. 2026, 19:09
![Participants stage a performance ahead of a press briefing on the 2026 School Violence Survey at the Blue Tree Foundation in Seoul on May 19. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/31/af9dc83f-66f3-4d68-b53b-3e3e7a106881.jpg)
Participants stage a performance ahead of a press briefing on the 2026 School Violence Survey at the Blue Tree Foundation in Seoul on May 19. [YONHAP]
The number of school bullying cases reviewed at Korean high schools has risen for the third consecutive year — with international high schools and elite private institutions recording some of the most dramatic spikes — as universities increasingly factor students' bullying records into their admissions decisions and students and parents grow more aggressive in responding to any incidents that could affect college prospects.
A total of 7,646 school bullying cases were reviewed last year, up 200 cases, or 2.7 percent, from the year before, according to an analysis released Sunday by Jongro Academy, which examined school bullying review data from 2,397 high schools published on the Ministry of Education's portal dubbed School Info.
The figure has climbed steadily from 5,834 in 2023 to 7,446 in 2024 and now to 7,646 last year.
The sharpest increases were seen at schools whose students are most sensitive to college admissions outcomes — gifted schools, specialized high schools and private high schools. These schools recorded 212 bullying reviews last year, up 28 cases, or 15.2 percent, from the previous year — far outpacing the national average increase of 2.7 percent.
General high schools accounted for the largest raw number of reviews at 5,059, but their increase was a more modest 3.4 percent, or 165 cases.
Private high schools and international high schools saw relatively small numbers but some of the steepest percentage increases. Private high schools went from 16 cases to 34, a jump of 112.5 percent, while international high schools rose from 6 to 13 cases — an increase of 116.7 percent.
Experts point to changes in the college admissions system as the key driver. Starting with the 2026 academic admissions cycle, bullying disciplinary records became mandatory considerations across all university admissions processes. From the 2025 cycle, 147 universities had already begun factoring in bullying records, and from 2026, the requirement was extended beyond school records-based admissions to also cover college entrance exams, essays, practical skills and achievement-based admissions tracks.
Students accused of bullying are thus also increasingly fighting back to prevent a record from being created.
The college admissions industry noted a rise in so-called counter-bullying disputes — cases where both sides file bullying complaints against each other — which is seen as a contributing factor to the overall increase in review filings.
![An image of a schoolgirl alone with her head down on a desk [GETTY IMAGES BANK]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/05/31/8e2357a9-ef04-4ac4-8a6f-659413cb97e0.jpg)
An image of a schoolgirl alone with her head down on a desk [GETTY IMAGES BANK]
However, the rise in reviews has not translated into a rise in actual disciplinary actions. The number of bullying penalties handed down at high schools last year fell to 12,628, down 347 cases, or 2.7 percent, from the prior year. Since it is the final disciplinary outcome — not the filing of a review — that can negatively affect a student's college admissions, the data suggests that while more cases are being brought forward, fewer are resulting in formal punishment.
Among the disciplinary measures handed down, the most common was a prohibition on contact, intimidation and retaliation, which accounted for 3,549 cases, or 28.1 percent of the total. That was followed by written apology at 2,537 cases at 20.1 percent; school community service at 2,428 cases at 19.2 percent; mandatory special education or psychological counseling at 2,080 cases at 16.5 percent; and social community service at 824 cases at 6.5 percent. Expulsion, the most severe measure, was applied in just 42 cases, representing 0.3 percent of the total.
"As school record evaluations are strengthened starting with the 2028 college admissions cycle, the impact of bullying records on university admissions will only grow larger," said Im Sung-ho, director of Jongro Academy.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY LEE HOO-YEON [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)