According to data obtained from the Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau, Ministry of Education,36,396incidents of bullying were reported in public elementary, junior high, senior high and special education schools. By type of bullying(as percentage of the aggregate total of50,362incidents), teasing and taunting were most prominent with14,362incidents(28.5%), followed by verbal threat with8,767incidents(17.4%), assault with7,798incidents(15.5%)and exclusion from groups with7,677incidents(15.2%). Thus, bullying takes various forms, not all of which are covered by criminal justice procedures. Moreover, the very nature of bullying makes such incidents very difficult to identify.
  The number of cases resulting from bullying and the number of juveniles subjected to guidance for bullying both show a long-term downward trend after peaking in1985with638cases and1,950persons. In1999,however, the number of cases rose by39(39.8%)to137,while juveniles subject to guidance increased by101(37.7%)to369(source:Living Safety Bureau, National Police Agency). In some cases, bullying may lead to retaliation such as homicide and bodily injury, or suicide by the victims. Of the137cases resulting from bullying,6can be classified as retaliation.
  In1994,the Ministry of Justice launched the system of Special Commissioners on Children's Rights specifically to address issues of children's rights.688special commissioners were placed in Legal Affairs Bureaus and District Legal Affairs Bureaus nationwide as of June1,2000,to provide consultation services to victims of bullying as well as taking appropriate measures to eliminate the practice of bullying.