High school seniors preparing for college admissions in 2026 face a new hurdle: any record of school violence could mean a zero score on their applications. This stringent stance is part of a sweeping change across all universities in South Korea, aimed at curbing school violence.

Under the new guidelines set by the Korean Council for University Education, or KCUE, all 195 four-year universities nationwide are required to incorporate measures addressing school violence into their admissions processes. This means that any student with a history of school violence recorded in their school records will face penalties, as determined by each university's evaluation criteria.

The move comes in response to a high-profile incident involving the son of a candidate for the head of the National Investigation Headquarters. Despite receiving disciplinary action for school violence during his high school years, the candidate's son was admitted to Seoul National University, sparking controversy.

Each university has outlined specific penalties for students with a history of school violence. For instance, Seoul National University will factor in such information during the evaluation process for all admissions types. Similarly, Korea University plans to disqualify applicants with such records from the first stage of evaluation in its physical education and special talent admissions.

Moreover, Sungkyunkwan University and Sogang University have taken a particularly tough stance, announcing policies to effectively bar applicants with a history of school violence. They will assign a zero score starting from the second level of disciplinary action, severely impacting the candidates' chances of being admitted to the school.

This shift underscores a broader commitment to creating safer learning environments and fostering accountability among students. However, it also raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the admissions process, particularly in cases where disciplinary action may have been disproportionate or contested.

As students prepare for the increasingly competitive college admissions landscape, navigating these new measures will undoubtedly be a significant challenge. With universities now scrutinizing not just academic achievements but also behavioral records, students must be vigilant about upholding standards of conduct both inside and outside the classroom.

Korean netizens commented:
"This is a good policy."

"Good."

"It's more odd that they did not adapt this before."

"This is very good."

"All bullies should be penalized for their actions."

"So, it was possible to ban bullies from college."

"This should have been the way it is."

"I'm so happy that they decided to adapt this policy."

"I really don't get why people bully."

"They should also prevent them from becoming social workers too."

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