Concerns about secondary damage due to the spread of school violence video in Songdo

As the video of a middle school violence incident involving a female student in Songdo, Incheon continues to circulate online, concerns are growing regarding the exposure of the victim's personal information and the risk of secondary harm.

Despite police removal efforts, some videos remain on social media and online communities.

According to the police, the video titled "Incheon Songdo 11th Grader School Violence Video," posted on social media on the 2nd of this month, shows middle school student A repeatedly slapping her classmate B.

The 1 minute and 39 seconds long video exposes the faces of both the perpetrator and the victim, capturing B pleading, "I'm sorry. Please stop," while A continues the assault.

Exposure of personal information and appeals from the perpetrator

As the controversy grew, the police began an investigation, and A was booked without detention on charges of slapping B seven times in a parking lot of an apartment complex in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, last November.

The police have deleted the originally circulated video through the Korea Communications Standards Commission and are investigating individuals involved in the incident, including the person who filmed and distributed the video.

However, the exposure of faces in the already distributed video has led to the rapid spread of personal information about those involved online.

A post allegedly written by A has been shared on social media, stating, "I receive at least 36 calls a minute, and I'm getting so many messages on text, KakaoTalk, Telegram, and Instagram DMs that it's honestly scary. I want to receive my punishment slowly and live quietly, so please stop now."

A also appealed, "If my photos or personal information are leaked from this moment on, I will file a lawsuit one by one," and asked for help so she could receive her punishment quietly and reflect on herself.

Limitations of deleting online videos and the need for improved social awareness

Illegal and harmful content related to youth is removed by the Korea Communications Standards Commission, which processes reports and requests corrections from platform operators.

However, if the same video is re-uploaded, it is considered new content, requiring the review process to be repeated.

The police are requesting video deletion through continuous monitoring to prevent further distribution, but due to the nature of social media, complete removal is challenging.

Experts point out that "a societal atmosphere must be created to discourage posting such videos."

The distribution of school violence videos can cause ongoing mental anguish for victims and those who share the videos may also bear legal responsibility.

In terms of protecting youth and personal information, there is an urgent need for social awareness improvement to prevent the sharing and spread of such videos.

Image source: Instagram, online community, reference photo for the article / gettyimagesbank