30 elementary and middle school students implicated in group assault

Students video the assault of two girls in Cheonan, South Chungcheong on Oct. 21. [YONHAP]

Around 20 elementary and middle school students are under investigation for their involvement in a group assault against two girls of the same age group.

According to the police, when including those who incited the assault, the number of students involved increases to 30.

The Cheonan Dongnam Police Station on Tuesday said that a first-year middle school student and a fifth-grade elementary student were attacked at a construction site in Cheonan, South Chungcheong, at 4 p.m. on Oct. 21.

The assault persisted for 30 minutes, and more students arrived at the scene as rumors spread.

Some of the students recorded the assault on their smartphones.

The video shows the perpetrators grabbing the older girl by the hair and throwing her to the ground. They proceeded to kick and strike her on the head, shoulders, abdomen, and legs.

Some even encouraged others to join in while others cheered.

According to the police, the assault was premeditated, as some of the attackers admitted to knowing the older victim.

The violence began when one of the girls accused the victim of spreading rumors behind her back.

They confessed to devising a plan and calling the middle school student, who lives in neighboring Asan, also in South Chungcheong, to come to Cheonan.

The fifth-grader was assaulted because she had accompanied the middle school student.

Currently, both victims are receiving medical treatment at a hospital.

The majority of the students involved in the assault are 14 years old or younger, which prevents them from facing criminal charges.

The police intend to refer the case to Juvenile Court.

BY JUNG SI-NAE [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]