South Korean parents are hiring muscular, tattooed men to pose as fake “uncles” to protect their children from bullies at school. Multiple companies are offering different packages — ranging from $450 to $1,790 a day — to desperate parents to ensure that their children are safe from aggressive classmates. For the straightforward “uncle package,” a man in his 30s or 40s will reportedly walk the student to and from school and sternly warn bullies. The so-called “evidence package” offers an upgrade where the “uncle” will film the bullies in action and present the findings to the school Under this deal, the “uncle” will threaten to make the video public if there’s no remedial action. Meanwhile, the “chaperon package” deploys a more high-profile tactic of visiting the parents of bullies at their workplace and publicly shaming them. This new and unusual service has come about because of the rising incidents of suicide stemming from bullying. The issue first sparked public alarm in 2011 when Kwon Seung-min, a 13-year-old student, jumped to his death from an apartment building after leaving a note that described how he had been subjected to extreme bullying. The tragedy raised awareness of the problem, but recent figures suggest that it has still not been adequately addressed.
