High school student found dead in parking lot amid school bullying allegations

Police have launched an investigation after a high school student in Gwangju died under circumstances that have raised allegations of school bullying.

According to the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, a 16-year-old second-year high school student, identified only as A, was found unconscious in a parking lot of a commercial building in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, at around 4:40 a.m. on June 25.

A was in cardiac arrest when discovered and was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. He had sent a brief text message to his family, but no separate suicide note or letter was found.

During interviews with the bereaved family, police found indications that A had been under severe stress due to school bullying. Investigators are now looking into whether bullying was involved and whether it had any connection to his death.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education has also begun reviewing the circumstances of the incident at the high school A attended.

If you're thinking about self-harm or suicide, contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare's helpline 1393, available 24/7. Please request a translator for English-language services.