Police on Friday reported a steep increase in the number of school violence cases over the past year, as the government has stepped up efforts to root out rampant bullying and hazing among young students.
A total of 616 cases of classroom violence, including threatening, beating and money extortion, were filed last month mainly through the police's two main telephone and Internet channels, the National Police Agency said.
The January figure marks growth of nearly 25-fold from January last year, the police also noted.
Out of all cases, the agency opened official investigations in 203, according to the police.
More than half of the reported violence cases were filed by parents, the police said, adding that most incidents occurred at schools or after-school education institutions.
Nearly 40 percent involved victimized middle-school students while 35 percent involved elementary students, according to the police.
The data came as the police toughened their response to school violence offenders following an array of suicides by bullied students.
(Yonhap)