A scene from Netflix series “The Glory,” starring Song Hye-kyo, is seen in this photo provided by Netflix.
SEOUL, March 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has been abuzz about the issue of bullying lately, particularly with the return of the Netflix original series “The Glory”, which has raised awareness of school violence around the world.
The series, which has become a must-watch for TV fans everywhere, will be back for Part 2 on March 10.
On February 24, President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed prosecutor-turned-lawyer Chung Soon-sin to head the National Office of Investigation.
However, he resigned a day later after it was revealed that his son had engaged in severe verbal abuse against a classmate in high school.
The victim student reportedly suffered from panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even attempted suicide.
In actuality, the scenes in “The Glory” reflect the reality of many South Korean schools.
As remote classes return to in-person classes with a gradual return to pre-pandemic normalcy, the number of bullying investigations at schools is rising again.
According to data released by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, the number of school violence investigations last year was estimated to be close to 20,000. Verbal abuse, in particular, has been on the rise.
Teachers prepare online classes in an empty classroom of a high school in the southwestern city of Gwangju on April 1, 2020 (Yonhap)
Kim Eun-sook, the renowned screenwriter behind the script of “The Glory”, has opened up about her motivation for the series and the impact it had on her.
In an interview, she shared that her high school daughter’s question during a production announcement interview prompted her to think deeply about the issue of bullying.
Kim’s daughter asked, “Mom, do you think it would hurt if I beat someone to death, or do you think it would hurt if I was beaten to death?”
This question prompted Kim to read the writings of victims of bullying, where she discovered that a sincere apology from the perpetrator was more valuable to them than monetary compensation.
“The moment violence occurs, human dignity, honor, and glory are lost,” Kim said.
“However, when a victim receives an apology from the perpetrator, they are able to start their lives over. I chose the title ‘The Glory’ because I want to support the victims in this state of ‘returning to the beginning’.”
This image is a scene from Netflix’s new Korean original series, ‘The Glory,” provided by Netflix.
Kim’s words reflect the powerful message behind “The Glory”, which has become a global sensation by shining a light on the issue of school violence.
As South Korea continues to grapple with the problem of bullying, Kim’s thoughtful approach to storytelling has provided a powerful voice for victims and brought the issue to the forefront of public consciousness.
In the meantime, Article 17, paragraph 1 of the Prevention of School Violence Act stipulates that students who commit school violence can be sentenced to a written apology, transferred, or expelled.
This regulation went through a constitutional appeal before it was accepted in a unanimous opinion of the judges.
Jerry M. Kim (jerry_kim@koreabizwire.com)
