The number of cases of sexual abuse among elementary, middle, and high school students has more than quadrupled over the last four years, according to statistics submitted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. They were presented to lawmaker Kim Choon-jin of the opposition Democratic Party.

According to the statistics, the number of cases jumped 4.3 times from 38 in 2006 to 166 in 2010. The rate has steadily increased in recent years, with 64 cases reported in 2007, 83 in 2008 and 96 in 2009.

While this year the overall numbers seem to have hit a plateau, as only 69 cases were reported in the first six months, the results last year are troubling. They show that cases are becoming more common among younger students.

In 2010, the number of cases of sexual abuse among elementary school students soared to 22 from zero in 2006. Over the same period, cases among middle schoolers jumped from 13 to 90.