South Korean universities reject students for school bullying

In South Korea, school bullying is increasingly resulting in severe long-term consequences, including rejection from university admissions. Students punished for serious cases of school violence must now disclose these sanctions in their academic records during the application process.

Starting this academic year, this practice has become mandatory for public universities. In 2025, 147 universities reported that they consider such records during student selection. Notably, 28 students were recently rejected from Kyungpook National University due to these factors.

The issue persists despite government efforts to curb school violence. The high-pressure academic environment in South Korea, while producing high educational standards, has been linked to significant mental health challenges. According to UNICEF data, South Korea ranks 34th out of 37 wealthy nations regarding the mental health of children and adolescents, with bullying cited as a contributing factor to rising youth suicide rates.