Jeju school accused of covering up 5th grader's suicide attempt; officials reported to police

A mother's anguish and a civic group's outrage are at the forefront of a case involving a fifth-grade student's suicide attempt at a Jeju elementary school. The incident, which occurred last November, saw the student, identified as 'A', attempt to jump from a third-floor window after enduring relentless bullying. While students intervened and prevented the tragedy, the school's subsequent actions have drawn sharp criticism.

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My child couldn't tell their Chinese mother about the pain they were enduring because they are Chinese. I begged them to tell me, but there was no record of my child's attempt anywhere.

Civic group 'Political Mothers' filed a complaint with the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, accusing school administrators and education officials of dereliction of duty, abuse of power, and falsifying official documents. They argue that the school's failure to submit a formal report to the education office and its neglect in initiating a school violence committee meeting constitute a cover-up. The student, of Chinese nationality, had reportedly been subjected to verbal abuse, including being called "disgusting" and told to "transfer schools."

The bullying only came to light in April, five months after the incident, when the parents of another student, 'B', reported it after seeing disturbing images in a group chat. Even then, the suicide attempt was not adequately addressed during the subsequent school violence committee proceedings, which resulted in disciplinary action against the perpetrators for the upcoming semester. The parents claim that retaliation against students A and B continues.

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Elementary school has become a place where being Chinese is normalized as a reason for bullying. ... Please stop the ongoing harassment by the perpetrators.

During a press conference, the mother of student A tearfully recounted her child's suffering, stating, "My child couldn't tell their Chinese mother about the pain they were enduring because they are Chinese." She lamented, "I begged them to tell me, but there was no record of my child's attempt anywhere." The student, still attending the same small school and interacting with the alleged bullies, shared a written statement expressing that elementary school has become a place where being Chinese is normalized as a reason for bullying. The student pleaded for an end to the ongoing harassment.

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Everyone who covered up the suffering of the school violence victim is an accomplice.