by Yun Ji Hyun / Cha Min Kyung

Hak-pok
[ENG] School Violence
 

▲ A visual representation of the various ways a student receives hak-pok

 

Hak-pok is the abbreviated term for 'school violence' or 'bullying'(학교폭력·[hakgyo poklyeog]) in Korean. In Korea, students spend a lot of time at school or in academies so hak-pok is considered one of the most prominent issues within society.

Hak-pok refers to actions that not only cause physical abuse but ones that also prompt mental and property damage to someone.

According to the Act on the Prevention of and Countermeasures Against Violence in Schools, school violence involves physical, mental or property damage inflicted on students through abuse, imprisonment, intimidation, insults, sexual violence within the school territory.

For example, bullying in class or stealing money from peers would all be classified as hak-pok.
Sexual violence is generally categorized as school violence, however sexual violence mainly occurs between students of opposite sexes, while school violence commonly happens between students with the same gender.

▲ Features of 'school violence' in Korean society
Since the possession of guns is illegal in Korea, the degree of school violence is not as extreme as school shooting cases that results in a large number of casualties. Instead, students are more vulnerable to being psychologically tortured as they receive emotional damage.

Examples of this kind of violence include ostracizing or teasing others, threatening classmates to fetch expensive items for oneself, or commanding peers to run errands.

 

▲ This illustration shows four different types of hak-pok (from the left): physical abuse, verbal abuse, insults, and sexual violence. 

 

This type of violence is considered to be very vicious as it is possible for perpetrators to simply make up excuses when the problem is found out by teachers or parents, saying their classmates acted voluntarily or that they were only joking.

Recently, hak-pok has evolved into cyber bullying since students constantly use online communication platforms and their social media accounts to instant message one another, leak personal information, and share graphic images.

Violence within the school's sports department has also become a chronic problem.

Athletes in the sports department are severely punished--even in groups, however the punishment is typically brushed off as part of "teachings" passed down from senior athletes due to the strict hierarchy structure.

▲ Related Issue: 'School Violence and the Me Too movement' for athletes and celebrities

Recently there has been numerous cases where athletes and celebrities are being called out for being perpetrators of school violence in their past. This phenomenon closely resembles the Me Too movement which earned a large response as sexual violence survivors raised awareness about the significance of the issue.

Once people upload posts that expose a celebrity's past experience as a perpetrator for hak-pok, it has opened an opportunity for victims to reveal their encounters with bullying as well.

 

▲ This combined image shows volleyball players, Lee Jae-yeong and Lee Da-yeong during an interview as well as their handwritten apology letter. 

One of the representative cases within the sports industry was when the South Korean volleyball twins Lee Jae-yeong and Lee Da-yeong were accused of bullying previous students at their school. As the controversy grew, the twin sisters were suspended from their national and club sides and their national team qualifications were also deprived by the Korea Volleyball Association.

In addition, Park Sang-ha, a former national volleyball player also admitted the allegations of school violence leveled against him and eventually announced his retirement.

 

▲ K-pop singers who received allegation for hak-pok. This thumbnail from Yonhap News TV, shows (from top left) THE BOYZ Sun-woo, Seventeen Mingyu, Everglow Asha, Loona Chu, Stray Kids Hyunjin, and (G)I-DLE Soo-jin. 

Controversies regarding school violence were also spotted within the entertainment industry as well. K-pop idol group members such as: (G)I-DLE Soo-jin, Seventeen Mingyu, former member of I.O.I So-hye, Loona Chu, Everglow Asha, THE BOYZ Sun-woo, and trot singer Jin Hae-sung were all asserted as perpetrators of hak-pok.

 

Among the acting community, relatively young actors such as Jo Byeong-gyu, Kim Dong-hee, and Park Hye-soo were targeted as well. 

Most of the celebrities and their management agencies have released a number of statements that deny the allegations but the issue has not easily been forgotten by the public.

School violence Me Too is a phenomenon that has emerged due to young adults using online communities and social media as a medium to voice their experiences and opinions.

While some expect these allegations and controversies to raise awareness about how perpetrators of hak-pok will be held responsible for severe consequences, others easily believe only one side of the argument without any legitimate evidence which may lead unexpected victims to emerge. 

 

 

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[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]