South Korea’s severe penalties for students accused of bullying are having consequences beyond the intended deterrent, according to the source article. Families are increasingly contesting school decisions through lawsuits, and insurers have reported a sharp rise in payouts related to school violence claims.
Students with bullying on their records can be disqualified from public university admission, a penalty that could have significant financial and educational effects. The article argues that the stakes have encouraged parents to challenge accusations and school rulings rather than simply accept them. Such legal disputes can last for years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Figures cited from five major nonlife insurers show payouts linked to school violence rising from 231 cases in 2021 to 1,297 in 2022 and 3,388 in 2023. The article reports 3,443 cases in 2025, and says 2,056 had already been recorded in January and February of that year.
The source also describes a case involving a fifth-grade student sued for 25 million won, or about $16,580, after repeatedly asking to borrow items and allegedly looking at another student. The local education office found no need for action, but the other student’s parent pursued a civil damages claim. The court dismissed the lawsuit in full, and the family later sought insurance coverage after facing the school committee process and legal proceedings.
The article presents these cases as an unintended effect of a policy designed to curb bullying: prolonged legal battles can impose substantial financial and psychological burdens on families.
Sources: Psychology Today.