Nina Jobst
Research expert covering South Korea
Cyberbullying in South Korea - statistics & facts
In South Korea’s competitive society, bullying is a severe problem. With almost everyone spending at least some time online and the potential for anonymity, the severity and the number of cases of online bullying and harassment have both proliferated. Korean online commenters, sometimes referred to as “K-netizens”, are known for leaving harsh critiques under news articles and social media posts. Any sort of bullying and online harassment can have severe negative effects on the victim. But since victims can feel the wish to retaliate in the same way, perpetrators often end up experiencing cyber bullying, too, continuing a vicious cycle.
A specific group that is always under public scrutiny is that of celebrities. Not only do gossip and news websites report on their activities – private or not – but also critics and sometimes even fans harm them. Bullying has led to celebrities quitting their jobs or worse, and online attacks can be even harsher as harassers hide behind anonymity. Stalking is another big problem from Korean stars. So-called "sasaeng" fans are known for trying to infiltrate the life of their idols, often trying to get access to sensitive information via online hacking.
The scope of cyberbullying in South Korea
As endless as the possibilities of human interactions are, equally endless are the ways of harming others online. These include rude or mean texts and messages, spreading false information, cyberstalking, spreading photos or videos of someone, and even threats of physical violence towards victims. In South Korea, the most common type of cyberbullying experienced by students is verbal abuse. For students, this mostly happens in online games. While cyber harassment via social media and text messages is rather common among both students and adults, AI-generated deep fake content has recently become a highly discussed problem.Who is involved in cyber violence?
Both South Korean students and adults suffer from bullying. However, victims do not necessarily stay victims. Among students, almost 41 percent have been involved in online bullying or harassment. Out of those, over 15 percent have been both victim and perpetrator. While experiencing overall less online bullying than students, adult victims also sometimes become perpetrators.A specific group that is always under public scrutiny is that of celebrities. Not only do gossip and news websites report on their activities – private or not – but also critics and sometimes even fans harm them. Bullying has led to celebrities quitting their jobs or worse, and online attacks can be even harsher as harassers hide behind anonymity. Stalking is another big problem from Korean stars. So-called "sasaeng" fans are known for trying to infiltrate the life of their idols, often trying to get access to sensitive information via online hacking.
Measures against cyberbullying
Each time a bullying incident and the suffering of its victims catch the public’s attention, the demand for safety, social media content regulations, and protection for victims becomes louder. While celebrities or their labels often turn to lawsuits, private persons are more likely to impede the perpetrator’s access to their online accounts. As school violence is mostly regarded as a serious issue, the education sector has taken a determinate step towards containing the problem. Starting 2025, universities will regard an applicant’s school record for bullying in entrance exams and deduct points for admission.
