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Police on Thursday vowed to break up a nationwide network of schoolyard gangs, dubbed Iljinhoe. Gang members who until the end of next month to come forward voluntarily and help police smash the network will be let off the hook.
"School violence has so far only resulted in the punishment of assailants. But in future priority will be given to investigating the Iljinhoe networks assailants are affiliated with." the National Police Agency said Thursday. It said the crackdown will start in earnest in May after the grace period expires.
The police plan to give immunity to gang members and even leaders who give themselves up during the grace period and deal leniently with gang members identified by their victims if they turn their back on the organization and assist police enquiries. But persistent offenders will be punished severely and their gangs broken up, police warned.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development will hold a workshop on Friday for city and provincial education superintendents and their deputies to work out ways of assessing and eradicating schoolyard gangs.
(Kim Bong-ki, knight@chosun.com )
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