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Middle school bully caught, too young for police to punish

Published: 14 Oct. 2025, 20:14

[YONHAP]

Police in Incheon tracked down a middle school student assaulting another student, but may not be able to press charges because she is under the legally punishable age of 14.

A video uploaded earlier this month showed a middle school girl assaulting another girl on three separate occasions inside a building in Yeonsu District.

In the footage, the girl can be heard saying, “Don’t cry,” and “Look at me properly,” before slapping the other student across the face.

Police said they have identified both students and have spoken with their parents to verify the details of the incident.

The student seen committing the assault is under the age of 14 and classified as a “juvenile delinquent,” a legal category under Korean law that exempts individuals under 14 from criminal liability.

Police said they have launched an investigation based on the available evidence and have requested that the video be removed to prevent further harm to the victim.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY SHIN HYE-YEON [[email protected]]