'Yacha rules' in Korea: Students film, sell videos of forced fights amid record school violence

In Korea, a record 5.7 percent of elementary school students reported experiencing school violence, marking the highest rate since the annual survey began in 2013. The overall rate of reported school violence across all levels of education, including elementary, middle, and high schools, reached 2.9 percent, a significant increase from previous years. Educators are growing increasingly concerned as more serious forms of violence, such as the "yacha rules" and forced fights, become prevalent in schools.

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with 16 regional education offices, released the results of the 2026 first-round survey on school violence. The nationwide survey, which covered approximately 3.9 million students in grades 4 through 12, was conducted online over a four-week period starting in April. Around 3.19 million students, or 81.9 percent of the eligible participants, completed the survey.

The overall share of students reporting school violence increased by 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous year's survey, reaching 2.9 percent. This figure represents the highest level since the education ministry initiated the comprehensive survey in 2013. Prior to this surge, the rate had declined to 0.9 percent in 2020, largely attributed to the implementation of measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.