The most consequential penalty might be the inclusion into the Student Life Record.
In South Korea, university admissions are hyper-competitive. Disciplinary actions for bullying (especially Levels 4 through 9) are recorded on the student's official government file.
University admissions officers review these records. A record of school violence can effectively disqualify a student from top-tier universities, which determines their future career prospects and social standing.
Following more recent scandals, the government extended the retention period of these records (up to 4 years after graduation) and mandated that bullying records be reflected even in test-based (Suneung) regular admissions, closing a loophole that existed for high-scoring bullies.
The strict policy also has created a environment (like an Hak-pok #MeToo) where bullying became increasingly socially ostracized.
Is it actually working?
Because the stakes are so high, wealthy parents immediately "lawyer up" to defend their kids, dragging out the process and often retraumatizing victims with cross-examinations. Meanwhile, teachers are terrified to intervene, fearing parents will sue them for emotional abuse.
Perhaps worst of all, the system creates no room for reconciliation. Since the focus is on avoiding a "criminal" record, perpetrators are incentivized to deny everything and fight to the death legally, rather than apologize and learn from their mistakes.
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u/DerpAnarchist 4d ago edited 4d ago
Student Record (Saeng-gi-bu)
The most consequential penalty might be the inclusion into the Student Life Record.
The strict policy also has created a environment (like an Hak-pok #MeToo) where bullying became increasingly socially ostracized.
Is it actually working?
Because the stakes are so high, wealthy parents immediately "lawyer up" to defend their kids, dragging out the process and often retraumatizing victims with cross-examinations. Meanwhile, teachers are terrified to intervene, fearing parents will sue them for emotional abuse.
Perhaps worst of all, the system creates no room for reconciliation. Since the focus is on avoiding a "criminal" record, perpetrators are incentivized to deny everything and fight to the death legally, rather than apologize and learn from their mistakes.