Criminal Defense

School Violence Accusation Defense Lawyer

School Violence Accusation Defense Lawyer | Defending Your Child When They Are Named as the Respondent

Summary

When a student is reported to a school as an alleged perpetrator of school violence, the school's Simuiwithoe (School Violence Prevention and Countermeasures Committee) investigates and can impose disciplinary measures ranging from a written apology to expulsion (학교폭력예방 및 대책에 관한 법률 제17조). These measures are recorded in the student's school life record and can affect high school and university admissions. Because the process moves quickly and often relies on the alleged victim's statement, the respondent side needs to raise factual disputes and procedural objections early, before the committee's decision becomes final.

Criminal · Student Discipline Respondent-side Defense Related Law: School Violence Prevention Act Administrative Appeal

School Violence Accusation Defense | Contesting the Alleged Facts Before the Hearing

Most school violence cases turn on a factual dispute — what actually happened, who initiated it, and whether the conduct meets the legal definition of school violence. This is the stage where careful preparation matters most, because the committee's findings are difficult to overturn later.

What counts as "school violence" under the statute

The law defines school violence broadly to include assault, coercion, defamation, ostracism, cyberbullying, and sexual violence occurring on or off school grounds among students (학교폭력예방 및 대책에 관한 법률 제2조 제1호). Whether a specific incident — a single argument, a group chat exchange, mutual physical contact — actually falls within this definition is often the first point to contest.

Reviewing the fact-finding report before it is finalized

The school conducts a fact-finding investigation and prepares a report that goes to the committee. Respondents and their guardians can submit a written statement of their own account, request that specific witnesses or evidence be considered, and point out inconsistencies in the alleged victim's statement before the report is finalized.

Addressing cases involving mutual conduct

In many disputes, both students describe some conduct by the other side (mutual insults, a shove that was returned). Establishing that the incident was not one-sided can affect both the measure imposed and how the case is recorded, so gathering contemporaneous evidence — messages, CCTV, third-party accounts — early is important.

School Violence Accusation Defense | What the Committee Can Order and How It Decides

The Simuiwithoe can impose one or more measures depending on the severity, whether the conduct was intentional, whether it was repeated, and whether the respondent has shown genuine reflection.

Range of measures under the statute

Measures range from a written apology and no-contact order, through community service, special education, and psychological counseling, up to transfer to another school and expulsion (학교폭력예방 및 대책에 관한 법률 제17조 제1항). Expulsion is only available for students no longer subject to compulsory education.

Factors that affect severity

The committee weighs the severity and duration of the conduct, premeditation, the relationship between the students, whether the conduct was retaliatory, and the respondent's attitude and prior record (학교폭력예방 및 대책에 관한 법률 제17조 제1항). A written statement showing context and proportionality can be submitted before the decision is made.

How measures are recorded

Certain measures are entered into the student's school life record (학교생활기록부) and, depending on the severity level, may remain there through graduation unless later deleted through a review process. This is one of the most consequential aspects for respondents, since it can affect later school and university applications.

School Violence Accusation Defense | Appealing a Disciplinary Decision You Believe Is Unfair

If the committee's decision is based on facts you dispute, or the measure seems disproportionate, the respondent side has formal channels to challenge it — but the deadlines are short.

Administrative appeal to the regional review committee

A student subject to a disciplinary measure may file an administrative appeal (행정심판) with the competent administrative appeals commission within 90 days of being notified of the decision (행정심판법 제27조 제1항). This is the primary route for respondents to challenge the committee's factual findings or the severity of the measure.

Administrative litigation as a further step

If the administrative appeal does not resolve the matter, the decision can be challenged through an administrative lawsuit (행정소송) before the administrative court, generally within 90 days of the decision being communicated (행정소송법 제20조 제1항). This route allows fuller argument on procedural defects in how the fact-finding or hearing was conducted.

Procedural defects worth raising

Common grounds for appeal include inadequate notice or opportunity to be heard, failure to consider evidence submitted by the respondent, a measure disproportionate to the findings, and composition or process errors in how the committee was convened. Raising these issues requires the hearing record and any written submissions, so preserving that documentation matters.

⚠ 90-Day Filing Deadline

An administrative appeal must generally be filed within 90 days of receiving notice of the disciplinary decision (행정심판법 제27조 제1항). Missing this window can foreclose the main avenue for contesting the measure, so the deadline should be tracked from the date of formal notification, not from the hearing date.

School Violence Accusation Defense | From Notification to Final Resolution

Initial notification and consultation
Once the school notifies you that your child has been named as a respondent, an early consultation helps map out the fact-finding timeline and identify what evidence needs to be gathered quickly.

Preparing the written statement and evidence
Before the fact-finding investigation concludes, the respondent side can submit a written account, supporting messages or records, and a list of relevant witnesses to be considered.

Attending the Simuiwithoe hearing
The student and guardian attend the committee hearing to respond to questions and present their account. A parent or attorney can generally accompany the student to help ensure the process is fair.

Reviewing the decision notice
After the hearing, the committee's decision and the specific measure imposed are issued in writing. This notice starts the clock for any appeal.

Filing an administrative appeal or lawsuit if warranted
If the findings or the measure are disputed, an administrative appeal can be filed within the statutory period, followed by administrative litigation if needed (행정심판법 제27조 제1항).

School Violence Accusation Defense | How Fees Are Calculated in Respondent-Side Cases

Consultation and case review
Initial fees typically reflect the time needed to review the fact-finding report, evidence, and the specific allegations before deciding on a defense strategy.

Representation through the Simuiwithoe hearing
Fees for preparing written submissions and accompanying the student through the committee hearing are generally set based on the complexity of the factual dispute and the number of alleged incidents.

Administrative appeal or litigation
If the case proceeds to an administrative appeal or administrative lawsuit challenging the disciplinary decision, fees are calculated separately based on the scope of the appeal and expected duration.

Related criminal proceedings
If the same conduct also triggers a separate criminal complaint (e.g., assault), representation in that proceeding is a distinct matter with its own fee structure.

※ Costs vary depending on case complexity and specific circumstances; exact fees will be provided during consultation. No specific outcome is guaranteed.

School Violence Accusation Defense | Self-Check for Respondent Families

1️⃣ Right After Notification

Have you received written notice specifying the alleged conduct and dates?
Do you know the deadline for submitting a written statement to the fact-finding investigator?
Have you preserved messages, call logs, or other records related to the incident?
Have you identified witnesses who can corroborate your child's account?

2️⃣ Before the Simuiwithoe Hearing

Has your child prepared a clear, consistent account of what happened?
Have you reviewed the fact-finding report for factual errors or omissions?
Do you understand which specific provision of the statute the school is relying on?
Have you decided who will accompany your child to the hearing?

3️⃣ After Receiving the Decision

Do you know the exact date the decision notice was received (this starts the appeal clock)?
Have you identified which specific finding or measure you disagree with?
Have you gathered the hearing record and all written submissions for the appeal?
Have you calculated the 90-day deadline for filing an administrative appeal?

4️⃣ If a Parallel Criminal Complaint Exists

Has a separate criminal report (e.g., for assault) also been filed with police?
Are you aware that the disciplinary process and criminal process run on separate tracks?
Have you coordinated your statements so they are consistent across both processes?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. My child was named as a respondent but says nothing like that happened. What can we do?

A. You can submit a written statement disputing the alleged facts and request that the fact-finding investigator consider specific witnesses or evidence before the report is finalized. If the committee still finds against your child, you can raise the factual dispute again through an administrative appeal (행정심판법 제27조 제1항).

Q. Can we refuse to attend the Simuiwithoe hearing?

A. The hearing generally proceeds even if a party does not attend, and non-attendance removes the opportunity to respond directly to the committee's questions. Attending with a prepared statement is usually more effective than not appearing at all.

Q. Will this go on my child's permanent record?

A. Certain measures are entered into the school life record, and depending on the severity level, may remain until graduation unless deleted through a later review process. This is one of the key reasons respondent families contest the severity of the measure at the hearing stage.

Q. What is the difference between the school's disciplinary process and a criminal case?

A. The Simuiwithoe process is an administrative/educational measure separate from any criminal investigation that may arise from the same incident (e.g., an assault report to police). The two processes run independently, and a favorable outcome in one does not automatically resolve the other.

Q. How long do we have to appeal a disciplinary decision?

A. An administrative appeal must generally be filed within 90 days of receiving notice of the decision (행정심판법 제27조 제1항). If the appeal is unsuccessful, an administrative lawsuit can generally be filed within 90 days of that decision (행정소송법 제20조 제1항).

Q. Can the measure be reduced instead of fully overturned?

A. Yes. An appeal can seek either a reversal of the factual findings or simply a reduction in the severity of the measure imposed, arguing it was disproportionate to the conduct found (학교폭력예방 및 대책에 관한 법률 제17조 제1항).

Q. Does my child need a lawyer at the hearing itself?

A. There is no requirement, but given how quickly the fact-finding and hearing stages move and how consequential the record entry can be, many families find it useful to have a written statement and evidence organized in advance with legal guidance.

Q. What if the alleged victim's account keeps changing?

A. Inconsistencies in the alleged victim's statements can be raised in your written submission and at the hearing, and are also a valid ground to highlight in a later administrative appeal if the committee relied heavily on that account.

Q. Can siblings or friends who witnessed the incident submit statements?

A. Yes, witness statements can generally be submitted to the fact-finding investigator or presented at the hearing, and can be an important part of contesting a one-sided account of the incident.

Q. What happens if my child is found only partly at fault?

A. The committee can account for shared or mutual conduct when deciding the severity of the measure, so establishing that the incident was not one-sided can still meaningfully affect the outcome even if some conduct is acknowledged.

Official References

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개인정보 보호 책임자 : 변호사
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