기사 메일전송
Unveiling the Dark Reality: The Glory Exposes the Alarming Severity of School Violence Crimes
  • 이수빈 기자
  • 등록 2023-05-01 06:26:39
기사수정

 Recently, Netflix’s thriller series The Glory has grabbed a lot of public attention as it delves into the prevalent social issue of school violence. The series follows the story of a woman who suffered severe bullying in high school and seeks revenge against her former bullies 20 years later. More and more people are therefore recognizing the harsh reality and severity of school violence, leading them to raise their voices for effective solutions and punishments. To find a viable solution for this pressing social issue, we must have a clear understanding of the precise nature and the extent of the problem, as well as compare our approach to that of other countries to identify any gaps in our strategies. Therefore, let’s first focus on the reality and seriousness of school violence in Korea.


 The depiction of school violence in the drama The Glory has left many viewers shocked, leading them to question whether the portrayal was exaggerated due to its fictional nature. Unfortunately, this was not an exaggeration but a reflection of the harsh reality of school bullying. One particular scene in the drama shows the bullies inflicting burns on the student victim’s body using a heated curling iron. Based on a true incident that occurred in Cheongju back in 2006, where the perpetrators burned the victim’s body in retaliation for the victim having ignored them. However, the perpetrator was only put on probation without any criminal record. When considering the severity of the abuse which resulted in the victim’s six-week hospitalization for injuries, among them a protruded tailbone, this punishment is very lenient. The established law to punish the offender in Korea is losing its original purpose and becoming advantageous to perpetrators. Therefore, many people are wanting and demand real change in these situations, so this has presented a crucial opportunity for society to make a positive change.



 To prevent school violence, Korea has 'The Act on the Prevention and Countermeasures against Violence in Schools.’ Crimes such as assault, injury, confinement, sexual violence, and cyberbullying are considered to be school violence under this legislation. However, the bill has been criticized for not being a fundamental solution to the prevention of school violence. If the perpetrator disagrees with the measures taken by the School Violence Review Committee, the implementation of the measures will be suspended and the protection of the victims will be insufficient. According to data released by the Ministry of Education, the number of times the perpetrators applied for suspension of punishment was 346 in 2020, 553 in 2021, and 648 in 2022. In particular, the quotation rate for suspension of punishment reached 53% for administrative trials and 62.1% for administrative lawsuits, and the disposition of the perpetrator was delayed, therefore the victim and the perpetrator were not separated. In March 2018, the son of a well-known lawyer expressed his intention to transfer, but the transfer was postponed due to a stay of punishment requested by the lawyer. The actual transfer took place in February 2019, as can be seen from the records of the case. The implementation of the law aimed at preventing school violence is causing secondary damage. Despite frequent revisions to the Act on the Prevention and Countermeasures against Violence in Schools, it has yet to effectively prevent such incidents from occurring.



 School bullying is a pressing issue that is not only confined to South Korea but also in many other countries, including Vietnam. Despite being the first country in Asia to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, the quality of the school environment in Vietnam is a growing concern for its society. Reports of violence in schools, both in frequency and severity, have escalated, leading to an increasingly unfriendly environment for children in some institutions. These developments have raised alarm bells among the public, calling for urgent action to be taken to create a safe and secure learning environment for children across the country. The problem of violence in schools in Vietnam is not limited to conflicts between students, but also corporal punishment by teachers, adding to the overall concerns about the safety and well-being of students in educational institutions. Some methods of physical punishment include knocking a child's head, slapping the thighs, or depriving them of food. Emotional abuse, such as shouting, or publicly blaming children, is also prevalent in some cases. Such behavior not only violates children's rights but also negatively impacts their physical and emotional development and academic progress.


 To address the issue of violence among students, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in Vietnam has implemented various measures focusing on creating a friendly and supportive school environment, promoting collective activities, strengthening the ties between schools and families, and enhancing the school security system. Vietnam is taking important steps towards ensuring that all children in the country can enjoy their rights and reach their full potential. A recent evaluation of Vietnam's laws and policies on child protection conducted by UNICEF has found that the country's legal framework and policies are effective in promoting and protecting the rights of children. However, there is still more work to be done to ensure that these laws and policies are effectively implemented and enforced to protect children from all forms of abuse and violence.



 

 We must put an end to the harm inflicted upon victims of school violence not just in Korea and Vietnam, but globally. Therefore, the law needs to define its role and focus on providing effective protection for the victims, as well as imposing clear and appropriate penalties on the perpetrators to achieve sound growth. To prevent the birth of another The Glory and end the horrors of school violence, we, as a society, must be vigilant and fully aware of the seriousness and impact of school violence.



78th Reporter • LEE SU BIN • ded333@kyonggi.ac.kr

79th Cub Reporter • NAM HYE SEUNG • namhyeseung50@gmail.com 

International Reporter • TRAN VIET PHUONG • ask.phuongtran@gmail.com

TAG
0
모바일 버전 바로가기