Jeju Elementary Student Attempts Suicide After Bullying; Parents Sue School Officials

A multicultural student at an elementary school in Jeju reportedly attempted suicide on campus following persistent bullying. The student's parent, Ms. A, has filed a lawsuit against school officials, alleging they attempted to downplay the incident and accusing them of dereliction of duty, forging official documents, and violating laws related to school violence prevention and countermeasures.

Ms. A reported discovering content on a classmate chatroom in April that disparaged or mocked her daughter's nationality, and subsequently notified the school. Some students reportedly continued to bully the victim even after the suicide attempt.

The Jeju Provincial Office of Education stated that the school had verbally informed the educational support office of the student's suicide attempt at the time and had implemented protective measures for the student, including guidance and counseling support. However, they acknowledged that official written reporting and record-keeping were insufficient and promised to take necessary follow-up actions after confirming the facts.